HHS OCR report · 2014
Minneapolis VA Health Care System data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Minnesota
- Individuals affected
- 500
- Submission date
- Jul 17, 2014
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE) sent a batch of 500 generic letters to its members informing them of a new community based outpatient clinic opening that erroneously caused another member’s full name and address to appear on the back side of the document. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media, and it also posted a notice on its website. To prevent a similar breach from happening in the future, the CE implemented a quality assurance check for batch mail. OCR...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Minneapolis VA Health Care System data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 500 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jul 17, 2014.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
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 Minneapolis VA Health Care System 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 Minneapolis VA Health Care System.