HHS OCR report ยท 2022
Niagara County Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Niagara County Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- New York
- Individuals affected
- 17,000
- Submission date
- Aug 5, 2022
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Niagara County Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, reported that an employee was the victim of an email phishing attack affecting the protected health information (PHI) of 17,000 individuals. The PHI involved included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, claims information, diagnoses, and treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice on its website. In response to the brea...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Niagara County Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 17,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 5, 2022.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, 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 Niagara County Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse 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 Niagara County Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.