STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Northwell Staten Island University Hospital has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit over a data breach that exposed the personal information of more than 35,000 patients.
The Medibase Group Inc. — a vendor that provides health care solutions, technical assistance and business office solutions — discovered the breach in May 2024, court documents indicate.
In January 2024, an unauthorized third party gained access to Medibase systems, which contained the protected health information of 35,106 individuals, a class action lawsuit filed in Georgia contends.
Data compromised in the incident included names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, medical information, and health insurance information, the lawsuit read.
“Staten Island University Hospital has agreed to settle a putative class action lawsuit about a 2024 cyberattack on the computer systems of The Medibase Group Inc., a vendor that provided services to the hospital and maintained records regarding certain hospital patients,” said SIUH spokesperson Jillian O’Hara. “The hospital’s computer systems were not impacted, and the hospital did not admit to any wrongdoing in agreeing to settle the matter.”
Anyone who was impacted by the data breach should have been sent a notification letter in the mail on July 5, 2024.
As detailed in the notice, more information and questions about the settlement can be found on the settlement website at medibaseSIUHdatabreachsettlement.com. You can also call the toll-free number 1-833-647-8978.
“If you received notice from the Settlement Administrator, then SIUH’s records indicate that you are a Settlement Class Member and entitled to benefits under the Settlement,” the settlement website says. “You may have received a previous notice directly from SIUH about the Data Incident.”
“Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Please read the Notice carefully and completely,” the site cautions.
The deadline for exclusion and opting out of the class action lawsuit is March 2. The deadline for submitting a claim is March 16, and the final fairness hearing has been scheduled for March 31.