Cardiovascular Associates
Informational Website

Notice of Data Security Incident

02/03/2023 — Cardiovascular Associates (“CVA”) experienced a data security incident that may have affected your personal information. On December 5, 2022, it was discovered that certain systems within CVA’s network may have been subject to unauthorized activity. In response to this incident, steps were quickly taken to restrict further unauthorized activity, an investigation of the incident was immediately launched, and a national forensic firm was engaged to assist with investigation and remediation efforts. In the course of the investigation, it was determined that an unauthorized third party was able to access certain systems that contained personal information and remove a copy of some data from the network between November 28, 2022 and December 5, 2022.

Based on the review, the personal information involved in this incident may have included one or more of the following elements: (1) demographic information to identify and contact the patient, such as full name, date of birth, and address; (2) Social Security number; (3) health insurance information, such as name of insurer/government payor and member ID, policy and/or group number; (4) medical and treatment information, such as medical record number, dates of service, provider and facility names, other visit, procedure and diagnosis information, and possibly assessments, tests and imaging; (5) billing and claims information, such as account and/or claim status, billing and diagnostic codes, and payor information; (6) passport and driver’s license number; (7) credit and debit card information; and (8) financial account information. For a limited subset of individuals, the information may have also included username and password. Please note that not all data elements were involved for all individuals.

CVA takes the security of personal information seriously. As soon as the incident was discovered, a forensic investigation was launched, and steps were taken to mitigate and remediate the incident and to help prevent further unauthorized activity. In response to this incident, security and monitoring capabilities are being enhanced and systems are being hardened as appropriate to minimize the risk of any similar incident in the future.

CVA is providing additional information on general steps individuals can take to monitor and protect their personal information in Additional Resources at the top of this page. Individuals should carefully review credit reports and statements sent from healthcare providers and financial institutions as well as their insurance company to ensure that all account activity is valid. Any questionable charges should be promptly reported to the provider or company which maintains the account. CVA has arranged to offer free credit monitoring and identity restoration services to individuals whose Social Security number, credit card/debit card or financial account information, passport or driver’s license number may have been involved.

CVA has established a dedicated assistance line for individuals seeking additional information regarding this incident. For the next 90 days, individuals who have questions about this matter or would like additional information can call toll-free 1-833-753-3802 during 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except holidays. This substitute notice and toll-free number will remain active for at least 90 days.

CVA is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information that it receives and sincerely regrets any inconvenience this incident may cause. Individuals potentially affected by this incident are being mailed notice letters. Since it is possible there may be insufficient contact information for some individuals, however, this notice is also accessible via CVA’s website, consistent with HIPAA.

Additional Resources

• Review Your Account Statements

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• Carefully review statements sent to you from your healthcare providers, insurance company, and financial institutions to ensure that all of your account activity is valid. Report any questionable charges promptly to the provider or company with which you maintain the account.

• Provide Any Updated Personal Information to Your Health Care Provider

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• Your health care provider’s office may ask to see a photo ID to verify your identity. Please bring a photo ID with you to every appointment if possible. Your provider’s office may also ask you to confirm your date of birth, address, telephone, and other pertinent information so that they can make sure that all of your information is up-to-date. Please be sure and tell your provider’s office when there are any changes to your information. Carefully reviewing this information with your provider’s office at each visit can help to avoid problems and to address them quickly should there be any discrepancies.

• Order Your Free Credit Report

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• To order your free annual credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, call toll-free at (877) 322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) website at www.ftc.gov and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The three credit bureaus provide free annual credit reports only through the website, toll-free number or request form.

  Upon receiving your credit report, review it carefully. Look for accounts you did not open. Look in the “inquiries” section for names of creditors from whom you have not requested credit. Some companies bill under names other than their store or commercial names; the credit bureau will be able to tell if this is the case. Look in the “personal information” section for any inaccuracies in information (such as home address and Social Security Number).

  If you see anything you do not understand, call the credit bureau at the telephone number on the report. Errors may be a warning sign of possible identity theft. You should notify the credit bureaus of any inaccuracies in your report, whether due to error or fraud, as soon as possible so the information can be investigated and, if found to be in error, corrected. If there are accounts or charges you did not authorize, immediately notify the appropriate credit bureau by telephone and in writing. Information that cannot be explained should also be reported to your local police or sheriff’s office because it may signal criminal activity.

• Contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission

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• If you detect any unauthorized transactions in any of your financial accounts, promptly notify the appropriate payment card company or financial institution. If you detect any incidents of identity theft or fraud, promptly report the matter to your local law enforcement authorities, state Attorney General and the FTC.

  You can contact the FTC to learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft by using the contact information below:

  Federal Trade Commission
  Consumer Response Center
  600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC 20580
  1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
  www.ftc.gov/idtheft/

• Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit File

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• To protect yourself from possible identity theft, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file. A fraud alert helps protect against the possibility of an identity thief opening new credit accounts in your name. When a credit grantor checks the credit history of someone applying for credit, the credit grantor gets a notice that the applicant may be the victim of identity theft. The alert notifies the credit grantor to take steps to verify the identity of the applicant. You can place a fraud alert on your credit report by calling any one of the toll-free fraud numbers provided below. You will reach an automated telephone system that allows flagging of your file with a fraud alert at all three credit bureaus.

  Equifax
  P.O. Box 105069
  Atlanta, Georgia 30348
  1- 888-766-0008
  www.equifax.com

  Experian
  P.O. Box 9554
  Allen, Texas 75013
  1-888-397-3742
  www.experian.com

  TransUnion
  P.O. Box 2000
  Chester, PA 19016
  1-800-680-7289
  www.transunion.com

• Security Freezes

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• You have the right to request a credit freeze from a consumer reporting agency, free of charge, so that no new credit can be opened in your name without the use of a PIN number that is issued to you when you initiate a freeze. A security freeze is designed to prevent potential credit grantors from accessing your credit report without your consent. If you place a security freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. Therefore, using a security freeze may delay your ability to obtain credit.

  Unlike a fraud alert, you must separately place a security freeze on your credit file at each credit bureau. To place a security freeze on your credit report you must contact the credit reporting agency by phone, mail, or secure electronic means and provide proper identification of your identity. The following information must be included when requesting a security freeze: (1) full name, with middle initial and any suffixes; (2) Social Security number; (3) date of birth; (4) current address and any previous addresses for the past five years; and (5) any applicable incident report or complaint with a law enforcement agency or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The request must also include a copy of a government-issued identification card and a copy of a recent utility bill or bank or insurance statement. It is essential that each copy be legible, display your name and current mailing address, and the date of issue.

  Below, please find relevant contact information for the three consumer reporting agencies:

  Equifax Security Freeze
  P.O. Box 105788
  Atlanta, GA 30348
  1-800-685-1111
  www.equifax.com

  Experian Security Freeze
  P.O. Box 9554
  Allen, TX 75013
  1-888-397-3742
  www.experian.com

  TransUnion
  P.O. Box 160
  Woodlyn, PA 19094
  1-888-909-8872
  www.transunion.com

  Once you have submitted your request, the credit reporting agency must place the security freeze no later than 1 business day after receiving a request by phone or secure electronic means, and no later than 3 business days after receiving a request by mail. No later than five business days after placing the security freeze, the credit reporting agency will send you confirmation and information on how you can remove the freeze in the future.