Billing error impacts 700 Texas Tech patients

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has notified approximately 700 patients of a breach after a processing error sent patient billing statements to other patients' addresses.

The Lubbock organization's notice said that patients may have "received a statement belonging to another individual. To ensure that all patient information is maintained confidential, please return the statement to TTUHSC or destroy the copy.” The error occurred on Feb. 18. The university learned of it on Feb. 20 and issued a public notice on March 22.

Information in the statements included name, account number, invoice number, service date, charge amount, department and provider name, adjustment amount, payments from insurance, amount due and total account balance, according to the notice.

The university has not received any indication that the information has been accessed or used by an unauthorized individual.

 

 

Beth Walsh,

Editor

Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.

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