HHS OCR report · 2013
Group Health Cooperative data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Group Health Cooperative
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Washington
- Individuals affected
- 1,015
- Submission date
- Oct 3, 2013
- Type of breach
- Other
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The CE sent an erroneous mailing to 1,105 individuals which displayed protected health information (PHI) in the address window of the envelope. The PHI involved in the breach included patients’ names, medical record numbers, diagnoses, and addresses. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE reviewed, updated and implemented applicable procedures to correct the causes of this incident. In response to OCR’s investigation, ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Group Health Cooperative data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,015 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Oct 3, 2013.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Other, 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 Group Health Cooperative 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 Group Health Cooperative.