Stolen Laptop Puts 729,000 Calif. Patients At Risk for ID Theft

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Stolen data from California medical center puts hundreds of thousands of patients at risk for identity theft, leading to class action lawsuits.

A medical privacy breach involving hundreds of thousands of California patients is putting AHMC Healthcare Inc. in the cross hairs of class action lawyers.

On Oct. 14, 2013, AHMC Healthcare officials announced that two laptops were stolen from a gated facility that contained medical records for as many as 729,000 patients who may be affected by potential medical privacy violations.

The company admitted that information contained on the laptops include names, insurance policy information, procedures and diagnostic codes and any payments made by or on behalf of a patients at one of seven facilities:

• Garfield Medical Center
• Monterey Park Hospital
• Greater El Monte Community Hospital
• Whittier Hospital Medical Center
• San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
• Anaheim Regional Medical Center

There has been no indication that instances of identity theft have occurred from the medical privacy breach, but patients who have been treated at these facilities must now watch out for changes in their credit reports or any other instances of fraud, including Medicare billing concerns. According to California law, unencrypted personal information breaches must result in notifications to patients involved without “reasonable delay” to limit the possible ramifications of medical privacy violations.

While the laptops were password-protected, medical privacy lawyers are investigating whether or not the data itself was encrypted to protect patients at these hospitals from access to personal information regarding their insurance, billing information as well as Social Security numbers. In addition to the above hospitals, the following healthcare facilities also reported recent data breaches that may have compromised thousands of Californians’ private medical information:

• Cottage Health System
• Kaiser Hospital
• Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
• Northern Inyo Hospital
• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
• UCLA Hospital
• UCSF Medical Center

Hospitals Face Medical Privacy Lawsuits

Violations of patient privacy rights can result in ongoing concerns regarding identity fraud and personal identifying information theft. AHMC Healthcare employees say that laptops will now be encrypted, but as noted above, it is unclear what, if any, protections existed in addition to the password protection on the two stolen laptops.

Medical privacy attorneys are currently investigating whether or not medical privacy violations have occurred and whether patients can seek damages based on violations of California state law. If you received treatment or took tests at any of the above-named facilities, you may be able to join a class action lawsuit regarding these issues.

Learn more about your options and submit the facts of your potential case at the Calif. Hospital Data Breach, Medical Privacy Violations Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. You’re entitled to a free eligibility review. Any damages obtained may help offset the costs of credit monitoring services and any other costs of protecting oneself from identity fraud.