AnMed Says Stolen Files May Include SSNs, Financial Data

AnMed Health, based in Anderson, S.C., says files copied during a cybersecurity incident may have contained patients' Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account information, according to Becker's Hospital Review. The system first disclosed the incident July 26 and says its investigation is nearly complete after identifying unauthorized copying of files from certain network systems.

AnMed said its patient electronic health record was not compromised, a distinction that limits clinical exposure but does little to reduce the risk of identity theft and financial fraud for affected patients. The combination of Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and bank account details is exactly the data set criminals prize for opening fraudulent accounts.

The breach fits a broader pattern of attackers targeting hospitals and health systems, which hold rich troves of personal and financial data and often run sprawling networks that are hard to fully secure. Regulators require notification once such exposures are confirmed, and affected patients typically receive credit monitoring offers.