Ransomware Attack Affects 320K, Medical Group Provides No Updates

A ransomware attack at Premier Family Medical could have put 320,000 patients’ health data in jeopardy, according to a filing on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) breach portal.

An unknown, unauthorized third party committed the attack on July 8, the Utah County medical group said to patients in a questions about notification letter.

Premier Family Medical provided few details to the possible victims in the letter, though the group claims the patients’ health data are unharmed.

“Even though our investigation has found no reason to believe patient information was accessed or taken, we are very concerned that this event even occurred and have taken steps to further enhance the security of our systems,” said Robert Edwards, Premier’s chief administrator who oversees cybersecurity and privacy programs.

But the letter does not explain the breach — or how Premier is enhancing its cybersecurity defenses.

Inside Digital Health™ made several attempts to reach a spokesperson at Premier Family Medical but was unsuccessful.

Premier also claimed additional information and update would be available on its website, however, since the initial letter being posted on Aug. 30 and the report filed on the OCR portal, no new announcements have been made.

The breach is the largest reported to the OCR portal since BioReference Laboratories reported a hacking incident that affected 425,749 in July.

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