Notice of Data Event

Southwest Colorado Mental Health Center, Inc. d/b/a Axis Health System Notice of Data Event

Southwest Colorado Mental Health Center, Inc. d/b/a Axis Health System (“Axis”) is providing notice of an incident that may affect some information of certain Axis patients. While we are unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of information in relation to this incident, we are providing details about the incident, our response, and resources available to help patients protect their information from possible misuse, should they determine it is appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On August 26, 2024, Axis detected irregular activity within our computer network. In response, we immediately took steps to contain the incident and launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the activity. The investigation determined that between July 9, 2024, and September 4, 2024, an unknown, unauthorized cybercriminal gained access to certain computer systems and potentially accessed and/or acquired files stored on those computer systems.

Axis is conducting a thorough review of the relevant files to determine what information was contained within the systems at the time of the event and to whom the information relates. As Axis identifies potentially affected individuals and their contact information, Axis is providing appropriate notification via written letter.

What Information Was Involved? The information stored on the impacted computer systems during the incident varies by individual and may include:

• contact information (such as name, address, date of birth, phone number, and email address)
• health insurance data (such as health plans/policies, insurance companies, member/group ID numbers, and government payor ID numbers)
• health data (such as medical record numbers, doctors, diagnoses, medicines, test results, images, care, and treatment)
• billing, insurance claims and payment data (such as claim numbers, account numbers, and billing codes)
• other personal data (such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license or state-issued ID numbers, or other identification numbers)

Axis is not aware of any actual or attempted misuse of your information in connection with this incident. The data that may have been seen or taken is not the same for everyone.

What We Are Doing. Axis takes this incident and cyber security very seriously. We are reviewing our policies and procedures and implementing additional security measures to further protect against similar incidents going forward. We reported the incident to law enforcement and notified state regulators as required

What You Can Do. We encourage you to sign up for the credit and identity monitoring services we are offering. As an added precaution, be sure your bills and accounts look correct as you receive them. If you learn of a crime against you related to your identity, you should take immediate actions to file a report with law enforcement.

For More Information. We understand that you may have questions about this incident that are not addressed in this letter. If you have additional questions, or need assistance, please contact us at 855-700-2743 (toll free), Monday through Friday, from 8am – 8pm Central Time, excluding major U.S. holidays.

Steps You Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Additional Information

Individuals may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General.

The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Individuals can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Individuals have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, individuals will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and their state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.