HHS OCR report ยท 2021
UW Medicine data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- UW Medicine
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Washington
- Individuals affected
- 18,389
- Submission date
- Jun 4, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
UW Medicine, the covered entity (CE), reported that its business associate experienced a ransomware attack that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 18,389 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, dates of birth, and medications prescribed. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. In response to the breach, the CE implemented additional technical safeguards and retrained its staff.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by UW Medicine
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UW Medicine | WA | Healthcare Provider | 3,804 | Sep 21, 2022 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| UW Medicine | WA | Healthcare Provider | 763 | Jun 15, 2022 | Theft | Archive (closed) |
| UW Medicine | WA | Healthcare Provider | 973,024 | Feb 20, 2019 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the UW Medicine data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 18,389 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jun 4, 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: Network Server.
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 UW Medicine 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 UW Medicine.