Nearly 50,000 Californian's social security numbers were accidentally disclosed by the Department of Health Care Services, the LA Times reported.
According to the Times:
The numbers were printed on the outside of envelopes sent to elderly patients of the Adult Day Health Care program, many of whom are blind or have Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive disabilities. The Department of Health Care Services sent the envelopes, which contained change-of-benefit notices, Feb. 1.
The social security numbers were mistakenly included in a list of patient addresses, the Times said.
Officials sent follow-up letters to those affected urging them to contact credit reporting agencies and freeze any new accounts.
