Were you a victim of the Geisinger cyber attack?
If you believe the Geisinger data breach compromised your sensitive healthcare data, a lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help hold those at fault accountable. For more than 60 years, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has represented the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania against powerful companies and large organizations. Call us for a free, confidential consultation.
Earlier this year, healthcare provide Geisinger and its software vendor, Blackbaud, Inc., discovered an illegal breach of sensitive patient data. Unfortunately, this cyber-attack lasted months. Because the data breach of Geisinger exposed thousands of patients, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is taking action on behalf of cyber-attack victims. If you know or suspect that the Geisinger breach exposed your information, we can help you understand your legal rights, protect yourself, and get the compensation you deserve.
About the Geisinger Health System Data Breach
Geisinger Health System is a regional health care provider with headquarters in Danville, Pennsylvania. Geisinger services more than 1.5 million patients in 45 counties in Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. In total, Geisinger’s system includes 13 hospital campuses, a 600,000-member health plan, and 2 research centers. The company employs 32,000 employees and 1,800 physicians. Primarily, Geisinger serves patients at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre in Wilkes-Barre, and Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. In addition, Geisinger also owns clinics in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Plains, Kingston, Mountaintop, Nanticoke, Dallas, and Wyoming.
When was the Geisinger data breach?
According to an October 15, 2020 press release, Geisinger’s software vendor, Blackbaud, Inc., discovered unauthorized access to the healthcare systems this summer. After conducting an internal audit of their files, Geisinger believes that these cyber-attacks occurred between February 7, 2020 and May 20, 2020.
What information was compromised in the Geisinger cyber attack?
As reported by Geisinger, the breach compromised the following patient and donor information:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Age
- Gender
- Treatment dates
- Departments of service
- Treating physicians
- Medical record numbers
Luckily, Geisinger reports no breach of the following data:
- Social Security Numbers
- Financial accounts
- Credit card numbers
- Electronic health records
How do I know if the cyber attack on Geisinger breached my patient data?
When it discovered the breach on August 17, 2020, Geisinger began notifying affected patients. Accordingly, Geisinger patients must be on alert. If Geisinger calls or emails you, you should assume the attack compromised your data. However, the fact that Geisinger has not yet called you does not mean your information is safe. As Geisinger is still in the process of notifying healthcare patients, you may soon discover you too are a victim.
Because of the cyber attack, Geisinger set up a call center to provide information. If you have questions about the incident or believe your data was compromised, call (877) 591-0212. The call center is open Mondays-Fridays, from 9 AM to 6:30 PM.
If I believe my data was compromised, what should I do?
If you suspect that you are a victim of the Geisinger cyber attack, take action now. Below are some steps you can take to begin making things right.
Ask Geisinger for much information about the data breach as possible
First, call Geisinger’s cyber attack call center at (877) 591-0212. If possible, find out when your data was accessed and what data was compromised. Because this information is key to protecting yourself and filing a legal claim, it is important to take notes. Also, don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions if you do not understand what you are being told.
Review your accounts and report suspicious activity right away
Additionally, Geisinger also recommends that its patients carefully review their medical bills. Specifically, Geisinger patients should check to see if they were billed for services that they did not receive. Although Geisinger believes it protected patients’ Social Security Numbers and financial accounts, you should still keep your eyes open. Regularly check your bank accounts, credit card statements, and other sensitive financial accounts. Importantly, report suspicious activity immediately.
Make a plan to protect your information and prevent future data breaches online
Also, think carefully about all of your online security. Many people use biographical data such as birth dates or names in passwords and security questions. Unfortunately, this leaves them vulnerable to cyber attacks. When possible, avoiding using this information or auto-storing your usernames and passwords. Additionally, do not use the same username, password, or security question answers for every account. Instead, try to mix it up every time. If you realize that you used your breached data as part of an online account’s security question, username, or password, change it right away.
Contact a leading data breach lawyer
If your information was hacked in the Geisinger data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. A leading cyber attack lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help you investigate your case and get the justice you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with our data breach team at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, contact us right away.
