Notice of Data Security Event
As part of our ongoing commitment to the security of our patients’ information, Associated Dentists is
notifying affected patients of a data security incident that may affect the security of their protected
health information. Associated Dentists and investigating authorities are unaware of any attempted or
actual misuse of patients’ protected health information. Associated Dentists is providing notification
to ensure that patients are aware of the incident so that they may take steps to protect their information
should they feel it is appropriate to do so. Associated Dentists is providing one free year of identity
monitoring and identity restoration services to affected individuals.
On Thursday, March 19, 2015, someone entered Associated Dentists’ Roseville office location after
hours and stole two laptops belonging to two different doctors at the Roseville location. The theft was
discovered on Friday, March 20, 2014. One of the stolen laptops was encrypted but the other was only
password protected. Upon learning of the burglary, Associated Dentists contacted law enforcement,
but the stolen laptops have not been recovered to date.
“Associated Dentists takes the security of our patients’ personal information very seriously,” said
Associated Dentists’ Compliance Officer, Patrick Jacobwith. “We performed a thorough investigation
in order to determine the nature and scope of this incident. Because we do not have the laptop in our
possession, Associated Dentists must assume there is a possibility that someone may have accessed
certain patients’ protected health information,” he said. The protected health information that could
have been accessed includes patients’ names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses.
For some individuals, treating physician name, diagnosis information, medical billing/procedure
information, responsible party name, insurance carrier name, insurance policy number, and email
address may have also been subject to unauthorized access.
In an abundance of caution, Associated Dentists is providing written notice of this incident to affected
individuals, to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as to certain state
regulators starting May 15, 2015. Associated Dentists is also providing notice of this incident to major
statewide media. In order to help further safeguard affected individuals from any potential misuse of
their personal information, Associated Dentists is offering affected individuals access to a
complimentary one-year membership to identity protection and restoration services. Notification
letters to affected individuals contain enrollment instructions for these services.
Associated Dentists encourages individuals to remain vigilant, to review account statements, and to
monitor credit reports and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity. Under U.S. law
individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting
bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877322-8228. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy
of their credit report.
At no charge, individuals can also have these credit bureaus place a “fraud alert’ on their file that alerts
creditors to take additional steps to verify their identity prior to granting credit in their names. Note,
however, that because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect individuals, it may also
delay their ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies the individual’s identity. As soon as one
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credit bureau confirms an individual’s fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on that
individual’s file. Any individual wishing to place a fraud alert, or who has any questions regarding
their credit report, can contact any one of the agencies listed below.
Equifax
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
Experian
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
888-397-3742
www.experian.com
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000
800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Individuals can also further educate themselves regarding identity theft, and the steps they can take to
protect themselves, by contacting their state Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission. The
Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been
misused to file a complaint with them. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.ftc.gov/idtheft, 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should be reported
to law enforcement, your Attorney General, and the FTC. Individuals can also further educate
themselves about placing a fraud alert or security freeze on their credit file by contacting the FTC or
their state’s Attorney General.
Associated Dentists has established a confidential inquiry line, staffed with professionals trained in
identity protection and restoration, and familiar with this incident and the contents of this notice. This
confidential inquiry line is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. E.S.T. at (877)
690-7014.
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