Texas Panhandle Centers alerts clients to potential data breach

Texas Panhandle Centers is alerting its clients to a potential data breach that took place last year.

According to a notice of the data security incident, on or about Oct. 17, 2023, "an unauthorized party accessed our computer systems. Upon detecting the unauthorized activity, we immediately contained the incident and commenced an immediate and thorough investigation. As part of our investigation, we engaged leading cybersecurity experts to identify what personal information, if any, was involved."

After an extensive forensic investigation and review of documents, Texas Panhandle Centers discovered around April 19 that a limited number of files were potentially acquired by the unauthorized party.

These files contained personal information such as patients' full names, dates of birth, driver’s license and/or state identification numbers and medical record numbers, as well as clinical information regarding diagnosis/conditions, lab results, medication, healthcare claims and treatment. Texas Panhandle Centers said information varied per individual, and, for a limited number of individuals, Social Security numbers could also have been involved.

While the community behavioral health clinic in Amarillo said it has no evidence of any identity theft or financial fraud relating to the incident, out of an abundance of caution, it started notifying affected individuals of the incident May 9.

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"Notified individuals have been provided with best practices to protect their information, and individuals whose Social Security numbers were contained in the impacted files have been offered complimentary credit monitoring," the notice stated.

People with questions or who need additional information, or who want to determine if they are impacted and are eligible for credit monitoring, Texas Panhandle Centers has established a toll-free response line at 1 (888) 841-4446, which is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Earlier in the week, Ascension health systems reported a cybersecurity incident that caused a system outage impacting facilities across the country and access to its digital services.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Texas Panhandle Centers says unauthorized access to data detected