Healthcare Patients Sue After Medical Records and Personal Information Exposed

Several large healthcare corporations are being sued in class action lawsuits after patients' personal and medical information was exposed or leaked. The lawsuits were filed in state and federal courts, with one case involving CareNow filed in Davidson County Circuit Court on June

11. The legal actions seek to hold these healthcare companies accountable for failing to protect sensitive patient data. If you or your family members have received medical care at CareNow or other healthcare facilities mentioned in data breach notices, your personal information may have been exposed. This could include your name, address, Social Security number, medical records, insurance information, and other sensitive details that could be misused by criminals. Here is what you should do right now. First, check your mail and email for any breach notification letters from your healthcare providers. These letters are required by law when breaches occur. Second, if you receive a notification, read it carefully to understand exactly what information was exposed. Third, enroll in any free credit monitoring services offered by the healthcare company. Fourth, place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion). Fifth, watch your medical insurance statements closely for any services you did not receive, as medical identity theft is a serious concern. Going forward, protect your family's health information by asking your doctors and healthcare providers about their data security practices. Keep copies of your medical records at home so you can spot fraudulent entries. Review all medical bills and insurance statements promptly. Consider freezing your credit if you are not planning to apply for loans or credit cards soon. Most importantly, report any suspicious activity related to your medical information immediately to your healthcare provider, insurance company, and local police.