HHS OCR report · 2016
OptumHealth New Mexico data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- OptumHealth New Mexico
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Minnesota
- Individuals affected
- 2,006
- Submission date
- Nov 18, 2016
- Type of breach
- Loss
- Location of breached information
- Other Portable Electronic Device
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On September 26, 2016, the covered entity (CE), Optum, learned that an unencrypted portable computer drive (a "USB flash drive") containing the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of approximately 2,006 individuals had been lost or accidentally destroyed within the U.S. Postal Service System after being mailed on September 16, 2016 by Optum’s business associate (BA) Rothstein, Donatelli, Hughes, Dahlstrom, Schoenburg & Bienvenu (a law firm). The ePHI consisted of names, addresses, ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the OptumHealth New Mexico data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 2,006 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 18, 2016.
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 OptumHealth New Mexico 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 OptumHealth New Mexico.