HHS OCR report · 2015
SSM Health Cancer Care data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- SSM Health Cancer Care
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Missouri
- Individuals affected
- 643
- Submission date
- Oct 9, 2015
- 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), SSM Health Cancer Care, erroneously mailed letters to the addresses of other patients due to using an inaccurate electronic file. The breach affected 670 individuals and included individuals’ names and their inferred treatment relationship. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. The CE performed a root cause analysis to identify risk areas and opportunities to strengthen controls and also retrained the individual who had er...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the SSM Health Cancer Care data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 643 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Oct 9, 2015.
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 SSM Health Cancer Care 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 SSM Health Cancer Care.