Privacy Update
Substitute Notice
Website Notice
HMG Healthcare, LLC (“HMG”) mailed notification letters to certain residents and employees affected by a data security incident and issued a press release to report the incident publicly. This website notice is intended to provide the same information included in the notification letters to individuals for whom HMG has insufficient or out-of-date contact information.
Notice of Data Breach
We are serious about protecting the privacy and the security of personal information that has been entrusted to us. Unfortunately, in November 2023, HMG became aware of a data breach of personal health information related to residents and employees at HMG affiliated nursing facilities. We are notifying affected individuals and/or their responsible parties that during August 2023, a server containing your or a loved one’s information was accessed without authorization and the records were potentially compromised.
The incident involved hackers gaining access to our server and stealing unencrypted files. Files on the server likely contained medical records and personal information, including names, dates of birth, contact information, general health information, information regarding medical treatment, social security numbers and/or employment records.
HMG quickly identified this breach and took steps to investigate the incident fully, mitigate any potential harm to you and/or your loved one, and protect against any further breaches. HMG worked diligently to ensure that the stolen files were not further shared by the hackers to other sources. HMG attempted to identify the specific data that was compromised but we have now determined that such identification is not feasible.
We have reviewed our policies and procedures regarding safeguards to ensure the security and integrity of electronic health information and have increased our data security protocols. While we believe that the breach has been mitigated, you can take steps to protect yourself or loved one by monitoring account statements, explanations of benefits, and credit bureau reports closely. You may also review the Additional Information provided below as a resource.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and concern this incident causes you. HMG will continue to do everything we can to correct this situation and improve our protections for you and others going forward. You may contact us directly at 281-419-5520 or at the address provided below with any questions. You may also view the list of facilities impacted below.
Sincerely,
Derek Prince
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner
HMG Healthcare, LLC
Additional Information
A consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report.
Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file with the credit reporting bureau. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.
As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, free of charge, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report.
Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:
Equifax at https://www.equifatx.com/personal/credit-report-services/ or 888-298-0045.
Experian at https://www.experian.com/help/ or 1-888-397-3742.
TransUnion at https://www.transunion.com/credithelp or 833-395-6938.
You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-438-4338; and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud (this letter alone does not suggest that you are a victim of or at risk of identity theft or fraud). Please note that in order for you to file a police report for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.
Affected Facilities
If you received a notice letter, you or your loved one’s information appeared on a list of individuals who were employed by or received care at a nursing facility affiliated with HMG that was involved in the data security incident. The name of the nursing facility is not always known by an “HMG” name. The following list of facilities are potentially affected by this incident:
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