McLaren Health Care Provides Notice of Data Security Incident

McLaren Health Care Provides Notice of Data Security Incident

McLaren Health Care ("McLaren") is issuing notice regarding a data security incident that may involve information related to certain patients of McLaren and Karmanos Cancer Institute. This notice provides information about the incident, the response, and resources available to individuals to help protect their information from possible misuse, should they feel it necessary to do so.

What happened?

Around Aug. 5, 2024, we became aware of suspicious activity related to certain McLaren and Karmanos Cancer Institute computer systems, the result of our organizations being the target of a cybersecurity attack by an international ransomware group. We immediately launched our emergency response plan and an investigation with the assistance of a third-party forensic specialists to secure our network and to determine the nature and scope of the activity.

Through the investigation, it was determined that there was unauthorized access to McLaren’s network between July 17, 2024, and August 3, 2024. As part of our investigation, we undertook a thorough review of the potentially impacted files to determine whether any sensitive information was present. It was through this process, which concluded on May 5, 2025, that we determined which patients’ information may have been included in the impacted files.

What information was involved?

The information involved may include a combination of the following: name, Social Security number, health insurance information, date of birth, and medical information including billing or claims information, diagnosis, physician information, medical record number, Medicare/Medicaid information, prescription/medication information, diagnostic and treatment information.

How will I know if my data was impacted?

We take the security of our patients’ information very seriously. While there is currently no evidence that your information has been misused, McLaren has begun the process of notifying those patients whose information may have been impacted. Letters will be mailed to those patients that include resources to enroll in complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.

What McLaren is doing.

We are committed to fully complying with all state and federal requirements and maintaining timely and transparent communication with our patients and the community. McLaren is providing complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection to all patients potentially impacted by the event. Those patients will receive a letter in the mail.

What you can do.

We recommend all McLaren patients remain vigilant, monitor and review all their financial and account statements and explanations of benefits, and report any unusual activity to the institution of record and to law enforcement. Additional guidance can be found below under Steps You Can Take To Protect Personal Information.

Although there is no evidence of actual or attempted misuse of personal information as a result of this incident, as an added precaution, McLaren has arranged to offer complimentary credit monitoring and identity restoration services provided through IDX to individuals whose information was present in the potentially impacted files. If you did not receive written notice of this incident but believe you may be affected or if you have questions about this incident that are not addressed in this notice, please contact our call center at (855) 201-0136, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET.

Steps You Can Take To Protect Personal Information

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.