The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) disclosed a significant data breach affecting approximately 3,400 individuals in or near various East Texas communities. The breach, stemming from a staff member’s inadvertent action, resulted in spreadsheets containing sensitive personal and health information being sent to a personal email account between September and October 2023.
HHSC only became aware of the breach on January 11, 2024, triggering immediate investigations to assess the extent of the compromise. The compromised data included full names, addresses, contact numbers, health records, service details, financial data, Medicaid identification numbers, and in one instance, a Social Security number.
Although there’s no evidence of unauthorized disclosure or misuse of the exposed data, HHSC is taking proactive steps to address the situation. This includes offering one year of complimentary credit monitoring services to affected individuals and establishing a dedicated hotline for inquiries.
Furthermore, HHSC has initiated internal reviews and referred the matter to the Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for further examination. Despite the breach, HHSC reaffirmed its commitment to data security, emphasizing ongoing staff training and the implementation of robust measures to safeguard sensitive information.
