Duke Medicine patients' information compromised

Statements containing confidential information were filed by Duke University Health System (DUHS) as part of patients' bankruptcy actions.

How many victims? Undisclosed.

What type of personal information? Names, addresses, DUHS internal record numbers, health insurance carrier(s), the last several digits of subscriber number(s) and clinical information describing patient visits.

What happened? Outstanding billing statements from DUHS containing personal information were used to support proofs of claim filed in Chapter 13 bankruptcy actions by patients.

What was the response? DUHS notified the patients by mail and set up a call center to assist them.

Details: The billing statements did not contain Social Security numbers or credit card information. DUHS claimed it does not believe that the compromised information was misused. It has requested that these billing statements be sealed by the Bankruptcy Court and will no longer use them in claim filings. 

Source:  DukeHealth.org news release, “Notice to Patients Who Previously Filed Chapter 13 Bankruptcy,” March 23, 2012.