Ascension patients are encouraged to seek out an identity theft protection service offering

PRESS RELEASE
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL
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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is making Ascension Healthcare patients and associates aware of the availability of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services from Ascension Healthcare, following a recent cyber attack. ransomware which could have impacted their personal information. Ascension detected the unusual activity in its network systems on May 8 and is currently investigating the attack.

“In light of this data breach, it is crucial that patients and their associates take proactive steps to protect their personal information,” Nessel said. “My department is in communication with Ascension and remains committed to helping Michigan residents protect their data.”

Ascension believes the data accessed in the cyberattack may include protected health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII) for some individuals, which may differ depending on who is affected. While Ascension is conducting a full review of potentially affected data, it is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to any Ascension patient or associate who requests it, whether the health system determines or not. in the future that their data was involved in this incident.

Consumers who want to sign up for free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services can call Ascension’s dedicated call center at 1-888-498-8066.

State law currently does not require businesses experiencing a data breach to share that information with the Department of Attorney General. The Department often becomes aware of these data breaches through media reports. The AG strongly recommends that lawmakers – as in many other states – strengthen our law to require businesses experiencing a data breach to immediately notify the Department of the Attorney General. This will allow the Attorney General to alert the public more quickly.

“If a breach goes unreported, hackers can exploit sensitive information they have stolen undetected for months, leaving our state’s victims vulnerable,” Nessel said. “The Department of the Attorney General must be alerted immediately to these violations in order to better assist consumers affected by these crimes. .”

Consumers who are concerned that they may have been impacted by the data breach can visit Ascension’s dedicated website for more information and updates on the breach and Ascension’s response.

The Department of the Attorney General’s Data Breaches: What to Do Next alert provides consumers with helpful information on the type of information accessible during a data breach.

To file a complaint with the Attorney General or obtain additional information, contact:

Consumer Protection Team:
PO Box 30213
Lansing, Michigan 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form

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