On January 5, 2024, The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD filed a notice of data breach with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights after discovering that an unauthorized party was able to access portions of the organization’s computer network. In this notice, the Harris Center explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, Social Security Numbers, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, U.S. Alien Registration Numbers, driver’s license/state ID numbers, financial account information, medical information, and health insurance information. Upon completing its investigation, the Harris Center began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification from The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Harris Center data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the Harris Center Data Breach?
The Harris Center data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected soon. However, the Harris Center’s filing with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on November 7, 2023, the Harris Center experienced a network disruption. In response, the Harris Center notified law enforcement and then began working with a third-party forensics firm to investigate the incident.
The Harris Center’s investigation ultimately concluded that an unauthorized party was able to access its network between November 6, 2023 and November 7, 2023. The investigation also confirmed that the unauthorized party could access files containing confidential patient information.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, the Harris Center reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, U.S. Alien Registration Number, driver’s license/state ID number, financial account information, medical information, and health insurance information.
On January 5, 2024, the Harris Center sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.
More Information About the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD is a behavioral and developmental disability care center located in Houston, Texas. The Harris Center serves patients through 86 locations throughout Harris County, serving approximately 80,000 individuals. The Harris Center employs more than 1,992 people and generates approximately $275 million in annual revenue.
