Medco Health Solutions

The covered entity (CE), Medco Health Solutions, Inc., reported that it mailed letters that contained the protected health information (PHI) of 4,341 individuals to incorrect addresses due to a corruption of data in the mailing software programming code. After conducting a risk assessment, the CE determined that the actual number of affected individuals was 1,287. The PHI included names, medication names, and prescription numbers. The CE provided breach notification to HHS and affected individuals. Upon discovery of the breach, the CE immediately ceased using the update to its mailing software system. As a result of OCR's investigation, the CE corrected the update to its mailing software system and established a manual quality check process. The CE also implemented the use of a daily automated surveillance system for its mailing software.