Social Security Numbers Displayed On UPMC MailersPOSTED: 4:18 pm EDT May 22,
2007 The region's largest health care provider is accused of sending out mailers with recipients' Social Security numbers in plain view through the window on the envelopes.The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center mailers were sent to 6,000 former patients. The letters inside asked for donations.The mailing used a tracking code for each recipient, but the tracking code included the person's Social Security number.A UPMC spokesman said anyone looking at the envelope would not have recognized the numbers as Social Security numbers and said the risk of identity theft due to the problem is very low.UPMC officials said they know of no identity theft tied to the mailing so far.The health care giant sent letters to those affected, apologizing for the oversight, and offered to pay for credit-monitoring services.The latest incident comes a month after it was discovered that dozens of patients' Social Security numbers and other personal information were posted on the Web site for the UPMC Radiology Department for as long as two years. Related Links: More County NewsGet RSS | E-Mail Alerts Copyright 2007 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | WTAE-TV Pittsburgh on Facebook
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