HHS OCR report · 2018
The Arc of Erie County data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- The Arc of Erie County
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- New York
- Individuals affected
- 3,751
- Submission date
- Mar 9, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Two spreadsheets containing the protected health information (PHI) of 3,751 individuals became available for public access via the internet due to a security protection failure on a hyperlink designed for internal use on the covered entity’s (CE) website. The breached PHI included demographic, clinical, and health insurance information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, the affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE turned off internet access to hyperlinks t...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the The Arc of Erie County data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 3,751 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Mar 9, 2018.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Network Server.
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 The Arc of Erie 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 The Arc of Erie County.