[July 6, 2023] – Public Health Management Corporation (“PHMC”) is providing notice of a recent data security event that may have affected personal and protected health information related to certain individuals. While PHMC is unaware of any actual or attempted identity fraud in relation to the incident, it is providing potentially affected individuals with information about the incident and steps individuals may take to help protect against the possible misuse of their information.

What Happened? On May 8, 2023, Public Health Management Corporation (“PHMC”) became aware of suspicious activity on its network. Upon discovery, PHMC promptly commenced an investigation, with the assistance of third-party digital forensic specialists, to determine the nature and scope of the activity. Through the investigation, it was determined that there was unauthorized access to PHMC’s network on May 8th, 2023 and while on the network the unauthorized actor had the ability to access or acquire certain information. As a result, PHMC is engaging in a comprehensive review of all files determined to be at risk to assess what information is contained within them and to whom the information relates. This review is ongoing, but once complete PHMC intends to notify any individuals who were potentially affected.

What Information Was Affected? The types of information that may have been impacted varies by individual and may include: full name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, medical history information, mental and physical treatment information, diagnosis information, treating physician, medical record number, health insurance information, policy number, subscriber number, and group/plan number.

How Will Individuals Know If They Are Affected By This Incident? PHMC plans to mail notice letters to individuals whose protected information was contained in the files at issue and for whom it has a valid mailing address.

What Affected Individuals Can Do. As a precautionary measure, individuals are encouraged to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft by reviewing their account statements, credit reports, and explanations of benefits for unusual activity and to detect errors. Any suspicious activity should promptly be reported to the appropriate insurance company, health care provider, or financial institution. Interested individuals can also review the Steps You Can Take to Help Protect Your Information below for further guidance.

For More Information. If you have questions, please call our toll-free assistance line at (215) 985-2538, Monday through Friday (excluding U.S. holidays), during the hours of 9am to 5pm. You may also write to PHMC at 1500 Market Street, Suite 1500, Philadelphia, PA 19102. 

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

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 your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You 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 credit 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, 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 a credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Eqifax
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/
1-888-298-0045
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

Experian
https://www.experian.com/help/
1-888-397-3742
Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-800-916-8800
TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

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, DC 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.