AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Health and Human Services Commission said Monday a potential disclosure of health and sensitive personal information could've impacted nearly 3,400 people living in or near several East Texas communities.
According to the HHSC, the state agency learned on Jan. 11 that a staff member emailed spreadsheets to their personal email account between September and October 2023. On Feb. 2, HHSC learned the spreadsheets had confidential information such as full names, home addresses and telephone numbers, health information, services, financial information, Medicaid identification numbers, and in one instance, a person's Social Security number.
The commission said in a statement the data breach might have affected 3,392 people living in or near Tyler, Texarkana, Longview, Marshall, Beaumont and Nacogdoches.
"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," the statement read. "HHSC is not aware of any instance of unauthorized disclosure or misuse of the personal information."
HHSC added it's possible the personal information may have been received or viewed by an unintended recipient.
According to the announcement, HHSC will be giving one year of free credit monitoring services to people impacted by the breach. Those who were affected were notified through first-class mail.
Those who think they could have been affected can call 833-918-7750, toll-free, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For calling, use the Experian engagement number B117866.
"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," the HHSC statement read.