Aetna accidentally discloses HIV status of some patients

“This type of mistake is unacceptable,” the company said.

“We sincerely apologize to those affected by a mailing issue that inadvertently exposed the personal health information of some Aetna members.”

Attorneys from the Legal Action Center and the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania wrote to Aetna Thursday demanding that it “immediately cease and desist from breaching their privacy by sending mail that illegally discloses that they are taking HIV medication.” 

“We also are demanding that Aetna take corrective measures to ensure that this gross breach of privacy and confidentiality never reoccurs,” Sally Friedman, legal director of the Legal Action Center, and Ronda B. Goldfein, executive director of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, wrote in the letter. 

The attorneys argue that the mailings violate HIPPA, a federal law that sets standards for the privacy of health information. 

“A number of the individuals who contacted the above-referenced organizations reported that family members and neighbors learned their confidential information regarding their use of HIV medications as a result of Aetna’s breach,” the attorneys wrote.

“Many of them have already filed complaints with administrative agencies, such as the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and state insurance regulators.”

The attorneys said they’re writing on behalf of patients in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. 

CNN reports that the law firms have already received 23 complaints about the letters.