Data On Thousands Of Patients Stolen At New Jersey Hospitals
HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Thousands of patients at three northern New Jersey hospitals have been alerted that their personal information was stolen in a data breach.
Officials said an employee with Medical Management LLC gave away names, Social Security numbers and birthdates of patients.
The company handles billing for The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck.
Data On Thousands Of Patients Stolen At New Jersey Hospitals
In a letter to patients, the company said it was cooperating with federal authorities in their investigation.
"MML takes this matter very seriously and terminated this employee after being informed,'' the company said.
All of the hospital have sent letters to patients apologizing and warning about the breach.
A spokesperson from Englewood Hospital said they're setting up a hotline for patients who may have concerns about their information being stolen, WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported.
The scope of the breach remains unclear, according to The Record newspaper.
MML will offer free identity theft protection services to those affected. They said that federal authorities told them March 16 of the breach and that there's no evidence that patients' medical histories or treatments were disclosed or that hospital databases were hacked.
The North Carolina-based billing company contracts with 40 providers across the country. Thousands of patients at White Plains Hospital in New York and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have also been warned that their personal information had been compromised.
Medical Management LLC is offering free credit protection services to anyone effected, Putney reported.
The employee worked at the company from February 2013 until March 2015, when the breach was discovered.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
