HHS OCR report · 2018
PA Dept. of Human Services data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- PA Dept. of Human Services
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Individuals affected
- 2,130
- Submission date
- Jul 16, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Other
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
As a result of programming error, the covered entity’s (CE's) online portal exposed the electronic protected health information (PHI) of former members of individuals' households to individuals when they reviewed benefit information. The breach affected the ePHI of approximately 2,130 individuals and included names, addresses, dates of birth, and financial information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE corrected the...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the PA Dept. of Human Services data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 2,130 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jul 16, 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: Other.
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 PA Dept. of Human Services 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 PA Dept. of Human Services.