Social security numbers on mailing from CA Dept of Health Care

“…A labeling blunder has exposed the private data of nearly 50,000 of California’s most vulnerable healthcare recipients. Their Social Security numbers were printed on address labels used in a mass mailing, state officials said.

The California Department of Health Care Services notified its beneficiaries of the security breach within several days of the Feb. 1 mailing. Many of the those affected are blind, have Alzheimer’s disease, or suffer some other cognitive disabilities, the Los Angeles Times reported….

….The DHCS was notified of the mistake Feb. 4 and started sending notification letters to beneficiaries two days later. The agency advised beneficiaries to contact credit reporting agencies and place fraud alerts on the opening of any new accounts….”

Dark Reading: Healthcare Data Exposed In California Security Breach