Analysis: 2020 Health Data Breach Trends

A snapshot on Monday of the Department of Health and Human Service's HIPAA Breach Reporting Tool website shows some 619 major breaches were reported and added to the tally in 2020, affecting nearly 28.8 million individuals.

Of those, 415 - or more than two-thirds - were reported as hacking incidents. Those affected a total of 26.4 million individuals, or more than 90% of those impacted by major health data breaches reported in and added to the tally in 2020.

Some 246 incidents - or about 40% - were reported as involving a business associate. Those breaches impacted nearly 19 million individuals.

Also commonly called the "wall of shame," the HHS website lists reported health data breaches affecting 500 or more individuals.

More 2020 breaches will undoubtedly be added to the HHS website in the weeks ahead as more affected entities detect, assess and report breaches of protected health information occurring in 2020 and federal regulators review and confirm details of those breach report filings.