CONTACT: PIO@azahcccs.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2023

AHCCCS Notifies Members of Breach of Personal Information

PHOENIX – The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) became aware of a breach of personal information on May 11, 2023 affecting 2,632 individuals in Arizona who are enrolled Medicaid members.

Upon becoming aware of the breach, AHCCCS conducted an extensive internal investigation and determined that, due to a systems error, some household accounts in Health-e-Arizona Plus (HEAPlus, the AHCCCS eligibility system) were viewable to individuals not included in their household. The viewable details included first and last name, address, and the last 4 digits of social security numbers.

At the point of discovery, AHCCCS disabled the HEAPlus system toolbar that allowed members to view this information. Additional internal procedures have been implemented to ensure that this type of error cannot occur again. On July 3, 2023, AHCCCS will begin to notify, in writing, those members whose personal information was compromised.

Affected members who are concerned that their personal information might be used inappropriately may wish to take one or more of the following actions:

1. Place a free credit report fraud alert. A “fraud alert” warns credit reporting agencies that there may be fraud involved in new requests for credit. Only one of the three main credit reporting agencies must be contacted to institute an alert.
2. Place a credit report security freeze. Under Arizona law, a “security freeze” prevents credit reporting agencies from releasing credit information without the consumer’s express permission. To place a security freeze, write to each of the three main credit reporting agencies by certified mail. Arizona law allows a charge of up to $5 for each request. (See www.azag.gov/consumer/security-freeze for details of the security freeze law.)
3. Request a credit report from the three main credit reporting agencies. Consumers are entitled to receive one free credit report each year from each of the three credit agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn more at www.annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or contact the credit reporting agencies:
• Equifax, 1-888-378-4329 or www.equifax.com/personal/ or mail to P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
• Experian, 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or www.experian.com or mail to P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX, 75013
• TransUnion, 1-800-916-8800 or www.transunion.com/annual-credit-report or mail to Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
4. Report any suspected identity theft to local police and inform AHCCCS of any filed police reports.

Other resources regarding identity theft are:

Identity Theft Resource Center
www.idtheftcenter.org
1-888-400-5530 (not a toll free number)
Information is available in English and Spanish.

Federal Trade Commission
www.consumer.ftc.gov/features
l-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338)
Information is available in English and Spanish.

Arizona Attorney General’s Office
www.azag.gov/consumer provides tips on how to guard against identity theft and the misuse of personal information (select Identity Theft from Quick Links menu at top of home page). You may also call 602-542-5025 (Phoenix); 520-628-6504 (Tucson); or toll-free 1-866-742-4911 (outside Maricopa and Pima Counties).