Shields Health Care Group Data Breach Lawsuit

Shields Health Care Group (“Shields”) recently reported a data breach that impacted certain individuals’ personal and medical information. The breach, which occurred between March 7, 2022, and March 21, 2022, was discovered on March 28, 2022, after suspicious activity was detected on Shields’ network. Affected individuals, including patients of Shields’ Facility Partners, may be eligible to seek compensation through a class action lawsuit. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the breach and steps impacted individuals can take.

Shields Health Care Group’s Data Breach Investigation

On March 28, 2022, Shields Health Care Group became aware of suspicious activity on its network that potentially involved data compromise. In response, Shields immediately launched an investigation and engaged third-party forensic specialists to assess the incident’s scope and impact.

The investigation revealed that an unauthorized actor gained access to Shields’ systems between March 7, 2022, and March 21, 2022. During this period, certain data was acquired. While Shields had investigated a security alert on or around March 18, 2022, data theft was not confirmed until the subsequent investigation into the event.

The breach potentially affected various types of sensitive data related to patients at Shields’ Facility Partners. However, as of now, Shields has no evidence to suggest that any compromised information has been used for identity theft or fraud. Despite this, the company is offering guidance to impacted individuals and encouraging them to take protective steps to safeguard their information.

When Did This Breach Occur?

The unauthorized access occurred between March 7, 2022, and March 21, 2022, and was discovered by Shields on March 28, 2022. While the company had investigated suspicious activity on March 18, 2022, data theft was confirmed only after further investigation.

What Information Was Breached?

The breach may have exposed the following types of personal and medical information:

• Full name

• Social Security number

• Date of birth

• Home address

• Provider information

• Diagnosis and treatment information

• Billing information

• Insurance number and information

• Medical record number

• Patient ID

Shields has emphasized that while no fraudulent activity has been confirmed, the affected data could be used maliciously. The company is conducting a full review of the compromised data to ensure that all impacted individuals are notified.

What You Can Do

If you were affected by the Shields Health Care Group data breach, it’s important to take action to protect yourself from potential identity theft and fraud. Here are the steps you should consider:

1. Monitor your accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized activity. Immediately report any suspicious transactions to your financial institution.

2. Place a fraud alert on your credit file: A fraud alert notifies credit bureaus to take extra steps before approving new credit in your name.

3. Consider a credit freeze: If you’re worried about identity theft, you can place a credit freeze on your file with all three major credit bureaus to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.

4. Review your insurance statements: Given the breach’s impact on insurance and billing information, check your health insurance statements for any discrepancies or unauthorized claims.

5. Stay vigilant for signs of fraud: Regularly monitor your credit reports for any unusual activity. You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus.

Shields encourages affected individuals to take these steps and to stay alert for any signs of fraud. The company will notify impacted individuals directly as soon as their review is complete and advise them on further actions they may need to take.

File a Data Breach Lawsuit Against Shields Health Care Group

If you were notified about this breach or believe your information was compromised, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. A data breach of this scale can result in identity theft, fraud, and other forms of financial harm, and you could be entitled to compensation.

Class Action U is here to help. If you’ve been impacted by the Shields Health Care Group breach, contact us for a free consultation. We can connect you with experienced attorneys who specialize in data breach class action lawsuits