On September 15, 2023, Oak Valley Hospital District (“OVHD”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of California after experiencing a “cybersecurity incident.” In this notice, OVHD explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, Social Security numbers, medical information and health insurance information. Upon completing its investigation, OVHD 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 Oak Valley Hospital District, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. Healthcare providers have a legal duty to protect your sensitive information. If a provider fails to implement the safeguards necessary to keep your data safe, they may be liable to you through a data breach lawsuit. 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 Oak Valley Hospital District data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

What Caused the Oak Valley Hospital District Breach?

The Oak Valley Hospital District data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, OVHD’s filing with the Attorney General of California provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on July 18, 2023, OVHD detected that an unauthorized party had gained access to its computer network. In response, OVHD retained a professional forensics firm to assist with the investigation.

Ultimately, the Oak Valley Hospital District investigation confirmed that an unauthorized party had access to its computer network between April 21, 2023 and July 18, 2023. It was also determined that some of the compromised files contained sensitive billing and healthcare information.

After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Oak Valley Hospital District 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, medical information and health insurance information.

On September 15, 2023, Oak Valley Hospital District 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 Oak Valley Hospital District

Founded in 1968, Oak Valley Hospital District is a non-profit public hospital and health system located in Oakdale, California. OVHD operates Oak Valley Hospital, as well as multiple clinics and a physical therapy facility. Oak Valley Hospital District also provides nursing & rehabilitation care. Oak Valley Hospital District employs more than 500 people and generates approximately $61 million in annual revenue.