Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane is encouraging Pennsylvania residents who were referred to or received services from physicians affiliated with the Community Health Systems Inc. (CHS) in the last five years to review their credit reports and accounts for possible unauthorized activity.
Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation, commonly referred to as CHS and Community Health Systems, in August publicly reported a data breach affecting at least 4.5 million patients nationwide.
In July 2014, CHS confirmed its computer network was the target of an external criminal cyberattack in April and June. Hackers gained access to patient names, addresses, birthdates, telephone numbers and social security numbers.
CHS has confirmed that the stolen data did not include patient credit card, medical or clinical information, and that the data breach occurred in physician practices affiliated with the company, not in its hospitals.
Consumer Health Systems recently sent letters to affected consumers informing them about the data breach, and Attorney General Kane is encouraging consumers to take advantage of the free, one-year credit monitoring being offered by the company.
Attorney General Kane said her office has seen an increase in the number of cyberattacks and data breaches involving consumer information, and will monitor the situation closely to protect consumers.
Free copies of credit reports are available at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228. Consumers with questions or concerns about the breach should contact CHS at 1-855-205-6951, or the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 or online at www.attorneygeneral.gov.
