Aetna to Pay $935K in HIV-Related Privacy Breach in California

February 18, 2019

Aetna will pay $935,000 after one of its vendors sent letters to California patients that revealed via a window on the envelopes that the recipients were taking HIV-related medications.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said that the settlement resolves allegations that Aetna violated state health privacy laws.

Aetna says in a statement that it has implemented measures to help ensure such a breach never happens again. The Connecticut-based insurance giant says its committed to protecting sensitive health information.

Officials say nearly 2,000 Californians, and 12,000 people nationwide, received the revealing letters in 2017.

Under the settlement, Aetna must complete an annual privacy risk assessment for three years.

The victims have received over $17 million in compensation through a private class action settlement.

Topics California

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