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Hofmann Arthritis Institute Provides Notice of Data Privacy Incident
Friday, February 11, 2022
Salt Lake City, Utah - February 4, 2022 - Hofmann Arthritis Institute PLLC and Hofmann Arthritis Institute of Nevada PLLC (collectively referred to as "HAI") is providing notice of a recent incident that occurred at one of its third-party vendors, Alta Medical Management and ECL Group, LLC (collectively "AMM"), that may affect the security of some information about certain patients. AMM provides HAI with patient billing and accounting services to its patients. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information in HAI's care is one of its highest priorities, and HAI takes this incident seriously.
On November 15, 2021, HAI discovered that it was no longer able to access certain information hosted on AMM's systems. HAI immediately commenced an investigation and gathered information from AMM in order to determine the nature and scope of the issue. Through this investigation, HAI confirmed that the incident did not involve any internal HAI systems, nor did it impact HAI's electronic health records systems. While AMM did not provide details surrounding this issue, the investigation determined on or about December 7, 2021, the incident was related to a cyber incident that occurred at AMM.
Although HAI's investigation remains ongoing, to date we have not been able to determine whether patient information was accessed or taken as a result of the AMM incident. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, HAI performed a comprehensive review to identify and provide notification of the incident to HAI patients whose information was potentially affected. This review was completed on January 27, 2022 and determined the following types of information was potentially impacted by the AMM incident: name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, driver's license number, financial information, medical information and/or health insurance and billing information. To date, AMM has not reported to HAI that this information has been subject to actual or attempted misuse in relation to this incident.
HAI is notifying potentially impacted patients in order to make them aware of the AMM incident and to and steps that can be taken to safeguard their information. HAI is also offering potentially affected individuals with credit monitoring services. HAI also encourages impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing their account statements and explanations of benefits for suspicious or anomalous activity. Any suspicious activity should be promptly reported to the appropriate provider, insurer, or financial institution.
HAI takes this incident and the security of information within its care very seriously. Upon discovery of this incident, HAI immediately launched an in-depth investigation to determine the full nature and scope of this incident. As part of its ongoing commitment to the privacy of information in its care, HAI is reviewing existing security policies and procedures regarding third-party vendors and is working to evaluate additional measures to further protect against similar incidents moving forward. HAI will also be notifying state and federal regulators, as required.
Individuals who believe they are potentially impacted by this event can visit HAI's website at www.hofmannarthritisinstitute.com or write to HAI at 24 South 1100 East, Suite 101, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 for more information.
Additionally, under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, a consumer can visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report.
Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.
As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:
1. full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. date of birth;
4. addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone
bill;
6. a legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state
driver's license or ID card, military identification, etc.); and
7. a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to
a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of
identity theft.
Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:
Equifax
Experian
TransUnion
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https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-
report-services/
https://www.experian.com/help/
https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
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1-888-298-0045
1-888-397-3742
1-833-395-6938
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Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069
Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
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Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094
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Additional Information
You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.
Media Contact: Alisa Mebius, (801-355-6468) ext 127
/PRNewswire/ -- Feb. 4, 2022/
SOURCE Hofmann Arthritis Institute
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