Oak Valley Hospital, located in Oakdale, California, reached a settlement in a class action related to a 2023 data breach. On July 18, 2023, Oak Valley detected suspicious activity on its IT systems. Pursuant to the forensic investigation, Oak Valley determined that an unauthorized third-party had access to its systems from April 21 to July 18, 2023. Based on the investigation, Oak Valley determined that during that timeframe, billing files and treatment records may have been viewed and/or exfiltrated. The affected information included names, health insurance information, treatment information, and Social Security numbers. The breach affected 268,267 patients.

The class action against Oak Valley alleged that breach victims were subject to heightened and ongoing risk of identity theft.

Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, class members who submit valid claims may be eligible for a $100 payment and may also receive reimbursement for documented out-of-pocket expenses if such expenses are “fairly traceable” to the breach, up to an amount of $5,000. Class members may also submit claims for lost time at a rate of $30 per hour.

Further, as part of the settlement, Oak Valley also agreed to enhance its cybersecurity practices and safeguards to protect personal and protected health information.