CHICAGO, Sept. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --ICS Collection Service, Inc. ("ICS") is a debt collection agency specializing in recovering aged debt from individuals ("debtors") on behalf of healthcare and commercial entities ("clients" or "creditors"), including University of Chicago Physicians Group ("UCPG"). ICS had previously contracted with UCPG for collection and address verification services. While the contract had been terminated before the potential breach occurred, ICS had retained data on 1,344 patient claims that were active at the time the contract was terminated.
On July 9, 2013, ICS received a report that a website user was able to view certain sensitive information relating to other debtors while on the debtor page of its website. While the investigation is ongoing, it currently appears that this website user viewed protected health information including names, addresses, and, in some cases, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, responsible party names, responsible party addresses, insurance payment and dates, insurance company names, insurance policy numbers, procedure and diagnosis codes and descriptions, dates of service, and treating physician names relating to certain UCPG patients.
When ICS received this report, we commenced an internal investigation. We also contacted our third-party website and software vendors, corrected the security setting and disabled access to the page on our website utilized by debtors to make payments and other account adjustments. We retained independent, third-party forensic experts to assist with our investigation. ICS reported this incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. ICS also retained privacy and data security legal counsel to assist in its investigation of, and response to, the incident.
This notice is being provided pursuant to the data event notification requirements of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the State of Illinois. In addition to issuing this press release, ICS is providing written notice to those current and former debtors for whom it has current or sufficient contact information.
ICS is unaware of any attempted or actual misuse of the data stored in the database. Nevertheless, ICS is offering credit monitoring and identity theft consultation services to affected debtors, at no cost, for one year. Affected debtors are also being offered additional information on protecting oneself from identity theft and fraud.
ICS is providing a privacy phone line for individuals seeking additional information regarding this incident, including whether their protected health information was stored on the database. The privacy phone line operates, toll-free, at 1-877-322-8228 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
SOURCE ICS Collection Service, Inc.
