With its treasure trove of sensitive patient information, the healthcare sector remains particularly vulnerable to data breaches. The recent data breach at Maimonides Medical Center has brought these concerns into focus, with patients and stakeholders seeking answers and solutions.
What Happened?
The Maimonides Medical Center breach was a cyberattack between March 18 and April 4, 2023, in which an unauthorized party accessed a computer server containing confidential patient information.
The breach affected approximately 33,000 patients and exposed their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, diagnoses, treatment information, and health insurance information.
The hospital discovered the breach on April 4 and blocked unauthorized access. It also hired cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and enhance its security measures.
The effects of the breach are not yet fully known, but they can include potential identity theft, fraud, and misuse of personal and medical information for the affected patients.
The hospital has notified the patients and offered them 24 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. The patients should also review their statements, credit reports, and accounts for suspicious activity and place a fraud alert or credit freeze with a national credit bureau.
The hospital may also face legal actions from patients or regulatory agencies for failing to protect their data.
Guidance for Affected Patients
After a breach, take strategic steps to mitigate the damage.
Immediate Communication: The First Line of Defense
If you’ve received notice of a breach, or even if you suspect your information was accessed illegally, contact your health insurance provider. Informing them promptly puts them on high alert, monitoring for any unusual or unauthorized activity on your account.
This step not only protects your health records but ensures no false claims or medical procedures happen in your name. Remember, the quicker the response, the better the chance to limit damage.
Financial Vigilance
Watch your bank statements and credit reports. Take even the smallest discrepancy, unexplained transactions, or minor anomalies very seriously. Investigate, raise concerns, and make your financial institutions aware.
Additionally, considering the sophisticated nature of modern-day cyber threats, enroll in credit monitoring services. Such services can alert you in real time about suspicious activities, offering an enhanced layer of protection.
Stay Alert to Scams
With your personal data potentially floating around, you may encounter phishing attempts. Post-breach situations are often prime times for scammers to try their luck. They can pose as representatives from the medical center, insurers, or even credit institutions, hoping to extract even more personal details from unsuspecting victims. These convincing communications can make discerning fact from fiction challenging.
Approach any unexpected communication with a healthy dose of skepticism. Before responding or providing additional information, verify the authenticity of the request by reaching out directly to the organization in question through established and official channels.
Contact Our Healthcare Data Breach Lawyers
If this breach or similar incidents harmed you, seek legal counsel. Contact Jacoby & Meyers, LLP. We stand ready to assist victims of data breaches in seeking justice and upholding their consumer rights.