HHS OCR report · 2024
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 959
- Submission date
- Dec 16, 2024
- Type of breach
- Loss
- Location of breached information
- Other Portable Electronic Device
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, reported that it lost a digital camera containing the protected health information (PHI) of 959 individuals. The PHI involved included names, Social Security and drivers’ license numbers, and financial information. The CE notified HHS, the affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. In response to the breach, the CE retrained workforce members to better protect its PHI.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 959 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Dec 16, 2024.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Loss, with the breached information located in: Other Portable Electronic Device.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from Massachusetts Department of Mental Health legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.