Letter from Contra Costa Health Services mailed December 2, 2011 to patients whose names were listed in a County Office of Revenue report

On Wednesday, November 23, 2011, Contra Costa Health Services was notified that a report created by the Contra Costa County Office of Revenue Collection had been discovered on the internet. This report was identified as a “Health Services Write-Off Report” and was attached to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors agenda dated July 27, 2010. The July 27, 2010 agenda item requested the Board of Supervisors to authorize the discharge of certain Health Services accounts that were not collectible due to one or more of the following reasons: the accounts were discharged in Bankruptcy; debtors were deceased; the statute of limitations for pursuing recovery of the debt had expired; the cost of recovery was excessive; and/or the debtor no longer resided in the State. Attached to the Board Order was a list of names of patients who had received health care from the County and the amount of the debt being discharged.

You are receiving this notice because your name is on the list attached to the Board Order referenced above and your name, combined with the fact that you received health services from Contra Costa Health Services, is considered a technical violation of the Confidentiality of Medical Information statutes, even though no information about your specific medical condition was revealed.

The County has removed your name from the list described above. The Board Order and its attachment will remain on the County’s website, but all patient names have been redacted.

Additionally, the County Office of Revenue Collection, which was formerly used by Contra Costa Health Services to collect delinquent hospital accounts, has been dissolved and no longer exists.

Protecting your privacy and personal information is important to Contra Costa Health Services and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Patient Financial Services at 925-957-7400. You may also contact our toll-free 24-hour Privacy Hotline at 1-800-659-4611.