Data breach in Texas exposes personal information of over 61,000 residents

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) disclosed a significant data breach on Friday, revealing that employees within its office had improperly accessed personal information belonging to 61,104 Texans. This incident affects some of the state’s most vulnerable residents, including those receiving Medicaid and food stamp benefits, and raises pressing concerns about internal security measures.

The agency discovered the breach on November 21, 2024, involving data from individuals who applied for or received state assistance between June 2021 and December 2024. The HHSC stated that employees allegedly accessed this information without authorization. Immediate steps were taken to mitigate the breach, including the termination of those involved and a referral to the Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) for further investigation and potential criminal charges.

In a public statement released on Friday, the HHSC assured affected individuals that it offers two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. Residents suspect their information has been compromised are encouraged to contact the agency’s helpline at 866-362-1773 during business hours, using engagement number B138648.

This is not the first time the HHSC has faced internal misconduct. Earlier this year, it was revealed that an employee unlawfully possessed the personal data of 3,392 Texans. Additionally, two other employees were accused of stealing $270,000 from approximately 500 food stamp accounts. In total, seven employees implicated in these incidents have been terminated.