In the event you’ve been a affected person at a Broward Well being hospital or medical facility, your Social Safety quantity, monetary data, even the rationale you had been a affected person may’ve been snatched in an information breach that the hospital system introduced Sunday.
And, that data may’ve been on the market on the information black marketplace for two and a half months — Broward Well being says the breach occurred on Oct. 15 and the chain discovered about it on Oct. 19. The Division of Justice and FBI had been notified that day.
“The (Division of Justice) requested Broward Health briefly delay this notification to make sure that the notification doesn’t compromise the continuing regulation enforcement investigation,” the Fort Lauderdale-based chain stated on its web site.
Broward Well being runs 5 hospitals, 4 outpatient facilities and one pressing care heart. The breach additionally concerned worker data.
Right here’s what you must know:
What sort of affected person data was accessed?
Broward Well being stated sufferers names; birthdates; driver’s license; monetary data, together with checking account and insurance coverage protection numbers; medical situation, remedy, analysis, historical past, document numbers; driver’s license quantity; electronic mail and precise tackle; and telephone numbers.
In different phrases, nearly all the pieces wanted for well being care fraud, at which South Florida has long been the nation’s leader.
“This private data was exfiltrated (faraway from Broward Well being’s techniques), nevertheless, there isn’t any proof the knowledge was really misused,” Broward Well being stated.
What must you do now?
Verify your monetary establishment account statements for unauthorized purchases or withdrawals. In the event you discover any, contact that monetary establishment.
Verify your insurance coverage profit statements. As talked about above, nowhere in the US does healthcare fraud flourish like South Florida. In the event you see medical companies you didn’t obtain, name your insurance coverage firm.
Verify your credit score reviews by contacting the Annual Credit Request Service both on-line or at 877-322-8228. You may print out a copy of a request form, fill it out and mail it to Annual Credit score Report Request Service, P.O. Field 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348.
You’re entitled to 1 free credit score report per yr from every of the three main credit score reporting businesses, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, annually.
How does Broward Well being say the information breach occurred?
Somebody bought into the Broward Well being system whereas within the workplaces of one other medical companies supplier that had entry to Broward Well being’s system.
This story was initially revealed January 2, 2022 12:58 PM.
Since 1989, David J. Neal’s area on the Miami Herald has expanded to incorporate writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old fashioned animation, meals security, fraud, naughty attorneys, dangerous docs and all method of breaking information. He drinks coladas entire. He doesn’t work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.
