1 Million-Plus In CT Affected By Healthcare Data Breach: Officials

MIDDLETOWN, CT —More than a million Connecticut residents could be affected by a data breach at Middletown-based Community Health Center.

Connecticut Attorney General Willian Tong said he is looking into the matter and Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz, a consumer rights law firm, indicated in an email to the media that it is investigating claims on behalf of patients who have been impacted by CHC data breach.

"We are in contact with counsel for Community Health regarding this breach that originated with a vendor," Tong said. " Our understanding is that three pools of data were impacted including patients, non-patients who received services, and employees."

Notice has gone out to "impacted individuals" and each person should review the notice to determine what data may have been impacted, Tong said. He added that if a Social Security or taxpayer ID was involved, 24 months of credit monitoring is being offered.

"We continue to recommend that individuals freeze their credit," Tong said.

State officials said about 575,000 patients had the entirety of their personal health information compromised, and 571,000 people had limited information breached. Also, 4,200 employees were affected, state officials said.

The social security numbers and COVID-19 vaccination records of 575,000 people were exposed in the data breach, state officials said.

Another 571,000 patients had their vaccination records left unguarded, according to state officials.

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz said CHC is notifying affected people that their personal information, including at least names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, diagnoses, treatment details, test results, Social Security numbers, and health insurance information "may have been stolen."