HHS OCR report ยท 2021
The Richards Group data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- The Richards Group
- Entity type
- Business Associate
- State
- Vermont
- Individuals affected
- 15,429
- Submission date
- Jan 28, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), The Richards Group, reported that an employee was the victim of an email phishing attack that compromised the protected health information (PHI) of 15,429 individuals. The PHI involved included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, diagnoses, and health insurance and treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and posted substitute notice on its website. In its mitigation efforts, the CE provided complimentary cred...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the The Richards Group data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 15,429 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jan 28, 2021.
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 The Richards Group 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 The Richards Group.