Health Information Management

MA health plan announces that laptop containing data on 30,000 members was stolen

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, February 4, 2008

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On January 24 Massachusetts-based Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP) announced a data breach that compromised the PHI of nearly 30,000 (approximately 15%) of its members, according to a January 25 article in the Worchester, MA Telegram & Gazette. The breach occurred when a laptop containing unencrypted data, which was not password-protected, was stolen sometime around January 1.

FCHP does not believe that the data-including names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers of its members-has been "accessed or used improperly," according to the article. The health plan, the fourth largest HMO in Massachusetts, has notified those affected by the breach via a letter. It has also established a toll-free customer service number to call, and is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring for affected members.

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