HHS OCR report · 2016
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Entity type
- Business Associate
- State
- South Carolina
- Individuals affected
- 998
- Submission date
- Feb 12, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
A business associate (BA), BlueCross\BlueShield, of the covered entity (CE), South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority, incorrectly mailed pre-authorization dental letters to the CE’s members due to a computer error. During the mailing sorting process, the names of the envelopes were not matched to the correct addresses. The breach affected 998 individuals and included financial, demographic, and clinical information. The BA provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals,...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 998 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Feb 12, 2016.
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 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina 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 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.