On December 22, 2023, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Montana after discovering that an unauthorized actor was able to access portions of the organization’s computer network. In this notice, Fred Hutch explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurance information, medical record numbers, patient account numbers, dates of service, treatment & diagnosis information, lab results, and provider names. Upon completing its investigation, Fred Hutch began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.

If you receive a data breach notification from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 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 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

What Caused the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Data Breach?

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, Fred Hutch’s filing with the Attorney General of Montana provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on November 19, 2023, Fred Hutch detected unusual activity within its computer network. In response, Fred Hutch contained the incident and then began working with third-party data security specialists to assist with its investigation.

Ultimately, through its investigation, Fred Hutch was able to confirm that the unauthorized actor accessed and acquired confidential patient information.

After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Fred Hutchinson Cancer 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, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, Social Security number, health insurance information, medical record number, patient account number, dates of service and clinical information such as treatment & diagnosis information, lab results, and provider name.

On December 22, 2023, Fred Hutchinson Cancer 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 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Founded in 1975, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a cancer research institute based in Seattle, Washington. However, prior to the 2022 merger between Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the organization was known as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Fred Hutch conducts research and clinical trials, as well as treats dozens of forms of cancer through eleven locations in and around Seattle. Fred Hutch Cancer Center employs more than 5,700 people and generates approximately $984 million in annual revenue.