HHS OCR report · 2016
Ecolab Health and Welfare Benefits Plan data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Ecolab Health and Welfare Benefits Plan
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Minnesota
- Individuals affected
- 1,550
- Submission date
- Feb 26, 2016
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a business associate (BA) of Ecolab Health and Welfare Benefits Plan, the covered entity (CE), stored the CE’s electronic protected health information (ePHI) on computer servers belonging to its parent corporation, Anthem, Inc. Anthem experienced a series of cyberattacks which exposed the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of almost 79 million people, including 1,550 individuals who received health insurance from the CE. The ePHI involved incl...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Ecolab Health and Welfare Benefits Plan data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,550 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Feb 26, 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 Ecolab Health and Welfare Benefits Plan 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 Ecolab Health and Welfare Benefits Plan.