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Late last year, Complete Care Health Network (CCHN), a healthcare provider based out of Bridgeton, New Jersey, filed a notice of data breach with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights after it discovered the company was targeted in a ransomware attack. According to the report, CCHN explained the data breach resulted in an unauthorized party accessing the sensitive information of over 300,000 patients.
CCHN operates 14 facilities across New Jersey, including Cape May Medical, Bridgeton Women's Medical, Family Medicine at Inspira, Glassboro Dental Center, Millville Medical & Dental, and Vineland Health Campus. CompleteCare provides its patients with a wide range of healthcare services, including primary care, dental care, immunizations, HIV services, and more. CCHN employs more than 89 people and generates roughly $31 million in annual revenue.
What Caused the Complete Care Health Network Data Breach?
According to the filing with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the notice posted on the Complete Care website discussing the incident, the breach was first detected on or around October 12, 2023. Upon its discovery, the company claims it stopped the breach that allowed an unauthorized party to access portions of its computer network. In response to the breach, Complete Care disconnected its system and worked alongside a third-party data security specialist to investigate the incident.
Once the investigation was completed, CCHN determined that an unauthorized party had accessed its systems and may have exfiltrated certain confidential patient information. The healthcare company was able to review the compromised files and ascertain what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. According to CCHN, the breached information will vary depending on the individual. However, victims can expect to see one or more of the following data listed in the company notice:
- Address
- Name
- Social Security number
- Phone number
- Health-related information
On December 15, 2023, Complete Care mailed letters to those patients who may have been affected by the breach. In the letters, CCHN provided victims with a complete breakdown of what occurred during the breach, the steps they took to secure their network after the breach, and the options they offered for affected customers to further protect their information. The letters will also provide victims with a list of their personal information that was compromised during the breach.
Complete Care is also providing affected individuals with access to Single Bureau Credit Monitoring/Single Bureau Credit Report/Single Bureau Credit Score services at no charge to them. For more information on how to sign up, customers can contact the helpline Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST at 856-451-4700. Those who have yet to receive notice from CCHN regarding whether they have been affected by the breach can take extra precautions to monitor their credit through available credit monitoring tools like those provided by credit unions like Equifax, Experian, and Transunion, who offer one free credit check a year.
What Is a Data Breach?
The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) defines a data breach as "any security incident in which unauthorized parties gain access to sensitive data or confidential information, including personal data." Stolen data can include your social security numbers, bank account numbers, healthcare data, or corporate data like customer data records, intellectual property, and financial information. Using this stolen data, unauthorized third parties can use the information to commit crimes like identity theft, which can cause victims significant financial losses, ruin credit, and other fraudulent actions that can destabilize the life of any individual.
What You Can Do To Protect Yourself After a Data Breach
In the event that you have had your personal information accessed due to a data breach, there are certain steps you can take to ensure you are protected. As mentioned above, certain credit unions like Equifax, Experian, and Transunion offer free yearly credit checks. However, for more frequent credit monitoring, websites like Credit Karma also offer customers free daily access to their credit reports as well as offer suspicious activity alerts and other financial protective services in the event a third party fraudulently uses your personal information to obtain credit cards or loans.
If you discover fraudulent activity on your accounts, victims can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), their state's Attorney General's office, or law enforcement to report the incident. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, victims have the right to be informed if the information in their credit file has been used against them. According to the FTC, victims also have the right to know "what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information."
To learn more information on the Fair Credit Reporting Act or what steps you can take after your personal information was accessed during a data breach, visit the FTC's website at www.identitytheft.gov or contact a Morgan & Morgan data breach attorney today.
Connect With a Data Breach Attorney Today
When working with a data breach attorney, they can significantly increase your odds of recovering any damages you and your loved ones may have incurred after your personal information was stolen. Your attorney will help you understand what legal options are available to you and ensure you have the best case moving forward when fighting back against entities that would try to dismiss any liability for their negligence after third-party hackers have stolen your private information. If your information was accessed during the Complete Care data breach or to learn if you have a data breach claim, take our online quiz today.