Arizona cardiology practice paying $3.85M to resolve lawsuit after data breach
Cardiovascular Consultants, a Phoenix-based cardiology practice, has agreed to pay $3.85 million to resolve a class action lawsuit related to a 2023 data breach. The funds will go toward paying for the litigation involved so far as well as paying patients who were involved in the data breach.
The breach occurred in September 2023. It was estimated at the time that approximately 500,000 patients could have potentially had their data stolen. Data involved in this incident included patient names as well as their mailing addresses, dates of birth, emergency contact information, Social Security numbers and more.
Cardiovascular Consultants was a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG at the time of the incident. According to paperwork filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the companies believed approximately 200 employees may have had their data stolen as a part of this attack.
In December 2023, Cardiovascular Consultants notified the patients and employees potentially affected by this breach. Each person was offered two years of complimentary identity monitoring.
“Although we have no evidence that any of your information has actually been misused, you should always remain alert by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring free credit reports, and immediately report to your banks and other financial institutions any suspicious activity involving your accounts,” according to the notice. “We also encourage you to enroll in the identity monitoring services that we have offered to you.”
Back in January, Florida-based Cardiovascular Associates of America (CVAUSA), one of the largest private equity-backed cardiology management groups in the United States, announced that Atria Heart, a Phoenix cardiology practice that already belongs to the CVAUSA platform, had acquired Cardiovascular Consultants.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.