On April 4, 2022, Maternal & Family Health Services (MFHS), was made aware of a sophisticated ransomware incident that may have resulted in the inadvertent exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized individual.  Upon learning this, MFHS immediately engaged specialized third-party forensic incident response firms to assist with securing our organization’s systems. The firms conducted a forensic investigation to determine the extent of any unauthorized activity and identify what data may have been compromised.   

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that elements of personal information of certain individuals may have been accessed.  This personal information included, and potentially was not limited to: names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account/payment card information, usernames and passwords, medical information and/or health insurance information.  The investigation also found that while MFHS was alerted to the ransomware event on April 4, 2022, the unauthorized access to the organization’s systems occurred between August 21, 2021 and April 4, 2022.  MFHS does not have any evidence that any personal information has been misused as a result of this incident. 

MFHS began notifying via U.S. Mail potentially affected individuals, including certain current and former employees, patients, and vendors, on January 3, 2023.  The letters include information about the incident and steps that individuals can take to protect their personal information such as the implementation of fraud alerts and security freezes. MFHS is also offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to individuals whose Social Security number and/or financial account/payment card information may have been involved in the incident.

Maternal & Family Health Services takes the protection our patients’ and employees’ personal information seriously.  We understand the inconvenience and concern this incident may cause and are committed to strengthening our systems’ security to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.

MFHS has launched a dedicated phone hotline for individuals with questions about the incident. Call center representatives are available at (833) 896-7339, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Eastern Time.

At this time, we are not aware of anyone experiencing fraud as a result of this incident. We encourage you to remain vigilant, monitor your accounts, and immediately report any suspicious activity or suspected misuse of your personal information. Additionally, we recommend that you review below, which contains important additional information about steps you can take to safeguard your personal information, such as the implementation of fraud alerts

and security freezes.

Steps Individuals Can Take to Protect Personal Information

Monitor Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report.

Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes

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 one-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.

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.

Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Individuals may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.