East Texans’ data leaked in HHSC breach

TYLER – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission said that a data breach might have exposed personal information about 3,392 people in or near Tyler, Texarkana, Longview, Marshall, Beaumont and Nacogdoches. Our news partner KETK reports that on Jan. 11, the HHSC said it discovered that a staff member had allegedly emailed spreadsheets containing full names, home addresses and telephone numbers, health information, services, financial information, Medicaid identification numbers and an individual’s Social Security number to their personal email. These emails were sent between September and October of 2023 and the HHSC said they only determined what the emails contained on Feb. 2 of 2024.

The HHSC said that they’ve already contacted those affected to provide them with one year of free credit monitoring, in order to keep their credit safe from any misuse of their information.

“HHSC took immediate steps to mitigate a potential breach by investigating the reported privacy incident, identifying the confidential information involved and referring the incident to the Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for investigation. HHSC is not aware of any instance of unauthorized disclosure or misuse of the personal information. However, it is possible that the personal information may have been acquired or viewed by an unintended recipient.”
Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Anyone who thinks they may have been affected is asked to call 833-918-7750 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The HHSC said to use the Experian engagement number B117866 when you call.

“HHSC is committed to ensuring confidential information is secure. In addition to staff being required to perform security and cybersecurity training annually, HHSC is taking actions to remind staff of their responsibility to protect confidential information.”
Texas Health and Human Services Commission