HHS OCR report ยท 2021
Chautauqua County data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Chautauqua County
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- New York
- Individuals affected
- 537
- Submission date
- Apr 16, 2021
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Chautauqua County, reported that an employee sent out an email containing the protected health information (PHI) of 537 individuals without using the blind carbon copy function. The PHI involved included names and email addresses. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In response to the breach, the CE sanctioned and retrained the employee.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Chautauqua County data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 537 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Apr 16, 2021.
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 Chautauqua County 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 Chautauqua County.