HHS OCR report · 2016
Massachusetts General Hospital data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 4,293
- Submission date
- Jun 29, 2016
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Hackers caused a breach of protected health information (PHI) at Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., a business associate (BA) of the covered entity (CE), Massachusetts General Hospital. The breach affected the PHI of approximately 4,293 individuals, and included demographic and clinical information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. OCR’s investigation revealed that the CE and BA had a business associate agreement in place at the time of the breach...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Massachusetts General Hospital
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts General Hospital | MA | Healthcare Provider | 9,900 | Aug 22, 2019 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | MA | Healthcare Provider | 588 | Dec 14, 2018 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | MA | Healthcare Provider | 648 | Jul 8, 2015 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Massachusetts General Hospital data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 4,293 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jun 29, 2016.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Network Server.
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 General Hospital 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 General Hospital.