**319,177 Americans Affected as Healthcare Firm Hacked - Personal Identifying Information Potentially Exposed**
A major cyberattack has left the personal identifying information of hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk after a healthcare firm suffered a massive data breach.
According to new data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, VITAS Hospice Services, a Florida-based healthcare company, has been hacked, potentially exposing the health records and personal data of 319,177 Americans.
The law firm Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP revealed that an unauthorized individual breached the accounts of VITAS's vendors between September 21st and October 27th. However, it wasn't until November 26th that VITAS informed the victims of the hack.
Though no funds have been reported stolen, the hackers had full access to sensitive information during the breached period, including:
- Names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Dates of birth
- Social Security numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- MEDICAL INFORMATION, such as:
- Medications
- Lab results
- Treatment information
- Diagnoses
In a statement, VITAS acknowledged the severity of the breach and assured that steps are being taken to bolster its cybersecurity protocols.
"We take this matter very seriously and have taken additional steps to reduce the risk of a similar incident occurring in the future," VITAS said. "We are working with a leading cybersecurity firm to assist with our investigation and analysis, and we are reviewing and strengthening our vendor oversight and data protection protocols."
VITAS has also informed law enforcement of the incident and is offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services for 24 months as a precautionary measure.
"Our notification to you has not been delayed due to a law enforcement investigation," VITAS assured. "As of the date of this letter, we are unaware of any misuse of your personal information as a result of this incident."
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