Data Privacy Incident

Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania – Notice of Privacy Incident

Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania (“BHARP”) is announcing a recent event that may impact the security of information related to certain current or former BHARP members. Although BHARP presently has no evidence that any such information has been used to commit identity theft or fraud, BHARP is providing information about the incident, steps taken since discovering the incident, and resources available to individuals to help protect their information from possible misuse, should they feel it is appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On or around June 17, 2024, BHARP became aware of suspicious activity affecting an employee’s email account. BHARP immediately launched an investigation to confirm the full nature and scope of the activity. The investigation determined there was unauthorized access to the account between June 14, 2024, and June 17, 2024, and that certain files and folders within the network may have been accessed or taken without authorization during that time. BHARP is providing notice to potentially affected individuals via letter with additional information.

What Information Was Affected? Based on our investigation to date, the information potentially affected may include a combination of certain individuals’ names, patient identification numbers and treatment information.

What BHARP is Doing. BHARP takes this incident and the security of information in their care very seriously. Upon becoming aware of this incident, BHARP promptly commenced an investigation to confirm the nature and scope of this incident. This investigation and response included confirming the security of our systems, reviewing the contents of relevant data for sensitive information, and investigating to determine the information that may be involved. As part of BHARP’s ongoing commitment to the privacy of information in their care, BHARP is reviewing its policies, procedures and processes to reduce the likelihood of a similar future event. BHARP will also notify applicable regulatory authorities where necessary.

For More Information. If you believe you are potentially impacted by this incident or have additional questions, you may contact BHARP by email at privacy@bharp.org, online at www.bharp.org, or by mail at 301 Science Park Road, Suite 308, State College PA 16803.

What You Can Do. We encourage potentially affected individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors over the next 12 to 24 months. We also recommend they review the Steps You Can Take To Protect Personal Information section of this notice.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, 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 a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their 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. 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 consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any 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, 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 a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/
1-888-298-0045
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348-5069
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

Experian
https://www.experian.com/help/
1-888-397-3742
Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-800-916-8800
TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (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. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.