HHS OCR report ยท 2017
Bluetail Medical Group data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Bluetail Medical Group
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Missouri
- Individuals affected
- 11,000
- Submission date
- Aug 2, 2017
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Desktop Computer
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On August 1, 2017, the covered entity (CE), Bluetail Medical Group, discovered that ransomware had been installed on a computer server storing 4,026 individuals' x-ray images, names and dates of birth. The ransomware blocked all files with encryption, and the hackers sent an email asking for bitcoin in exchange for the encryption key. Following the breach, the CE immediately removed the malware and recovered the lost data, installed new virus-protection software, and improved safeguards throu...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Bluetail Medical Group data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 11,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 2, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Desktop Computer.
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 Bluetail Medical Group 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 Bluetail Medical Group.