HHS OCR report ยท 2020
Heartland Counseling Services, Inc. data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Heartland Counseling Services, Inc.
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Nebraska
- Individuals affected
- 723
- Submission date
- Jul 16, 2020
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Heartland Counseling Services, the covered entity (CE), reported that an employee emailed patients without using the blind-copy function exposing the email addresses of 723 individuals. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In response to the breach, the CE sanctioned the responsible employee and retrained its staff. OCR obtained assurances that the CE implemented the corrective actions noted.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Heartland Counseling Services, Inc. data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 723 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jul 16, 2020.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Email.
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 Heartland Counseling Services, Inc. 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 Heartland Counseling Services, Inc..