Recent data breach may affect Tricare beneficiaries Published Nov. 30, 2011 By Col. Frank A. Glenn 66th Medical Squadron commander HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- On Sept. 14, 2011, at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas, a loss of computer tapes by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) placed protected health information at risk for approximately 4.9 million Tricare beneficiaries. The data contained on the tapes included names, Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers and some personal health data such as clinical notes, laboratory tests and prescriptions. There is no evidence any of the data has been accessed by a third party. Retrieving the data on the tapes requires access to specific hardware, software, knowledge of the system and its data structure, so the chance of data being compromised is low. Proactive measures are being taken to ensure potentially affected patients are kept informed and protected. Beginning Nov. 4, 2011, SAIC began notifying the affected beneficiaries by letter, offering one year of credit monitoring from "ID Theft Smart" and credit restoration for free. Those who have received this breach notification letter can be assured it is legitimate and not a scam. Tricare Management Activity takes this incident seriously and will ensure any affected beneficiaries are informed and protected. The 66th Medical Squadron extends the same assurance. Anyone who has questions regarding this matter may direct them to the Health Information Privacy Officer, Brenda McKing, at 781-377-4715. After Dec. 12, anyone with questions may reach McKing at 781-225-6198.