Bayhealth Confirms Data Breach Affects 257 Maine Residents

On July 31, 2024, Bayhealth Medical Center discovered suspicious activity within its network, marking the beginning of a significant data breach. This breach involved unauthorized access to Bayhealth's systems between July 27 and July 31, 2024. During this period, sensitive information was acquired by unauthorized individuals. By October 1, 2024, Bayhealth learned that the breach included Protected Health Information (PHI).

The breach exposed several types of personal information, including:

• Name
• Social Security number
• Driver’s license number
• Medical information
• Health insurance information

Bayhealth has not disclosed the total number of individuals affected nationwide. However, it has been confirmed that 257 residents in Maine were impacted by this incident. For more information, you can view the disclosure on the Maine Attorney General's website and the disclosure on the Massachusetts Attorney General's website.

Bayhealth Medical Center's Response

Upon discovering the breach, Bayhealth promptly launched an investigation with the help of forensic specialists to secure its environment and assess the scope of the breach. The company has notified federal law enforcement about the incident and is working to implement additional safeguards and employee training to prevent future breaches.

Bayhealth is offering affected individuals 12 months of credit monitoring services through IDX at no cost. This service includes identity restoration and up to $1,000,000 in expense reimbursement for confirmed identity theft. Affected individuals are encouraged to enroll in these services by May 3, 2025, to protect their personal information.

Bayhealth advises individuals to remain vigilant against identity theft and fraud by regularly reviewing account statements and credit reports. They have provided guidance on placing fraud alerts and security freezes on credit files and have shared contact information for national consumer reporting agencies.

About Bayhealth Medical Center

Bayhealth Medical Center is a not-for-profit healthcare system serving central and southern Delaware. It operates two main hospitals, Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus in Dover and Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus in Milford, along with several outpatient facilities. With over 3,700 employees and more than 400 physicians, Bayhealth offers a wide range of services, including emergency care, trauma care, cancer treatment, and cardiovascular services. The organization is affiliated with Penn Medicine for specialized services in heart and vascular care, cancer, and orthopedics.

Bayhealth is committed to strengthening the health of its community, providing advanced healthcare services, and continually improving its facilities and practices to meet the needs of its patients. For more information, visit their official website.