HHS OCR report ยท 2019
Regence BlueShield Washington data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Regence BlueShield Washington
- Entity type
- Business Associate
- State
- Oregon
- Individuals affected
- 684
- Submission date
- Aug 21, 2019
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Regence BlueShield of Washington, the covered entity (CE), reported that its business associate (BA) sent the Social Security numbers of 684 individuals to the wrong recipients. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided complimentary credit monitoring services. In its mitigation efforts, the BA implemented additional administrative and technical safeguards and retrained its staff.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Regence BlueShield Washington data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 684 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 21, 2019.
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 Regence BlueShield Washington 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 Regence BlueShield Washington.