NOTICE OF
DATA EVENT

Notice of Data Event

February 13, 2024 – McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, Inc. (“McKenzie Health”) is providing notice of an event that may affect the privacy of certain individuals’ information. McKenzie Health takes this incident very seriously and is providing information about the incident, our response to it, and resources available to individuals to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

WHAT HAPPENED?

On or about October 5, 2023, McKenzie Health became aware of suspicious activity related to a McKenzie Health employee email account. Upon learning of this activity, McKenzie Health took prompt steps to confirm the security of their network and email tenant. We immediately launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. Our investigation determined that the unauthorized actor gained access an employee email account between October 2, 2023, to October 4, 2023. Following this determination, McKenzie Health began reviewing the information that may have been contained in the impacted environment to identify individuals whose information may have been impacted, with the assistance of third party specialists. This review is ongoing.

WHAT INFORMATION WAS INVOLVED?

The information that was impacted varies by individual but may include: name, address, medical information, and health insurance information. McKenzie Health has found no indication that identity theft or unauthorized use of the affected information has occurred.

WHAT WE are DOING.

We take this event and the security of personal information in our care very seriously. Upon learning of this event, we moved quickly to investigate and respond to the event. As part of our ongoing commitment to the security of information, we are reviewing and enhancing our existing policies and procedures related to data privacy to reduce the likelihood of a similar future event. We are notifying impacted individuals for whom a valid mailing address is available via U.S. mail and offering them credit monitoring and identity protection services. We are also notifying applicable regulators.

HOW WILL INDIVIDUALS KNOW IF THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THIS INCIDENT?

At the conclusion of the review, McKenzie Health is mailing a notice letter to individuals whose information was determined to be in the affected files, for whom we have a valid mailing address.

WHAT YOU CAN DO.

We encourage individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing account statements, explanation of benefits forms, and monitoring free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of their credit report, place a fraud alert, or a security freeze. Contact information for the credit bureaus is below:

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 you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one 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 your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you may need to provide the following information, depending on whether the request is made online, by phone, or by mail:

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 you are a victim of identity theft.