HHS OCR report · 2016
PrimeWest Health data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- PrimeWest Health
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Minnesota
- Individuals affected
- 2,441
- Submission date
- Dec 29, 2016
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On November 15, 2016, a business associate (BA), Summit Reinsurance, notified the covered entity (CE), PrimeWest Health, of a data security incident involving the CE’s data. The breach affected approximately 2,441 individuals. The protected health information included patients’ names, addresses, date of birth, and social security numbers. The BA mitigated the breach by taking the computer server offline and by confirming that the ransomware was limited to a specific server. The BA also asses...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the PrimeWest Health data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 2,441 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Dec 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 PrimeWest 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 PrimeWest Health.