HHS OCR report · 2018
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC)
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- North Carolina
- Individuals affected
- 631
- Submission date
- Oct 11, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
In response to member telephone complaints, the covered entity (CE), Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, investigated and determined that on September 26, 2018, the CE mistakenly sent low income subsidy (LIS) letters to the wrong members due to an employee’s failure to follow established quality review procedures. Each letter contained the name and Blue Cross NC ID number for another member. Following the incident, the CE sanctioned the responsible staff member by coaching her and tas...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 631 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Oct 11, 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: 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 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) 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 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC).