HHS OCR report ยท 2019
Palmetto Health data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Palmetto Health
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- South Carolina
- Individuals affected
- 23,811
- Submission date
- Mar 29, 2019
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Palmetto Health, the covered entity (CE), reported that employees were the victims of an email phishing scheme that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 23,811 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, addresses, birthdates, claims information, diagnoses, lab results, medications prescribed, Social Security numbers, and treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In its mitigation efforts, the CE implemented additional adm...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Palmetto Health data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 23,811 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Mar 29, 2019.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Email.
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 Palmetto Health 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 Palmetto Health.