HHS OCR report · 2014
WA State Department of Social & Health Services data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- WA State Department of Social & Health Services
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Washington
- Individuals affected
- 3,104
- Submission date
- Feb 11, 2014
- Type of breach
- Other, Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE) erroneously sent mail to 3,104 clients at incorrect addresses due to a coding error in an internal database. The protected health information (PHI) contained in the mailing may have included clients’ names, addresses, and client identification numbers, and some letters also included dates of birth, social security numbers, diagnoses, and financial information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media, and posted substitute notic...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the WA State Department of Social & Health Services data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 3,104 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Feb 11, 2014.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Other, 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 WA State Department of Social & Health Services 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 WA State Department of Social & Health Services.