HIPAA Warns Recent Drop In Data Breaches Attributable to Government Shutdown
HIPAA Journal
|
Contributed by: Drex DeFord
Summary
The September 2025 Healthcare Data Breach Report indicates a decline in reported data breaches, with a total of 469 incidents year-to-date, down from 554 the previous year. However, this positive trend is undercut by incomplete data due to a government shutdown that halted updates to the Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights portal; thus, the actual number may rise once reporting resumes. September saw the lowest monthly count of breaches affecting over 500 individuals since December 2018, reflecting a significant drop in exposed personal health information. For healthcare professionals, these findings underscore the need for continued vigilance in data security practices even as breach numbers appear to decline.
