Passaic Hospitalist Services Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation
Were you treated by Passaic Hospitalist Services and just received a startling breach letter? Thousands of patients now face heightened identity-theft risks after hackers raided sensitive medical files. Find out how to protect your data and whether you can pursue compensation below.
What Happened?
On May 22 – 23, 2025, cybercriminals associated with the Qilin ransomware group infiltrated the network of ApolloMD Business Services LLC, a business associate that provides administrative support to Passaic Hospitalist Services and other physician groups. The intruders quietly copied documents packed with both personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). The breach was contained within 24 hours, but not before patient data was exfiltrated.
A forensic review confirmed that the stolen files related directly to patients seen by Passaic Hospitalist Services. On September 17, 2025, ApolloMD began mailing notice letters and posting an online disclosure required under HIPAA.
What Data Was Exposed?
- Full names
- Social Security numbers
- Dates of birth
- Home addresses & government ID details
- Diagnosis and treatment information
- Provider names & dates of service
- Health-insurance information
- Financial data tied to medical billing
Why This Matters
With both medical and financial identifiers in hand, criminals can commit medical fraud, open fake credit lines, or file bogus insurance claims in your name—often before you notice. In many cases, victims spend months (or years) unraveling the damage.
Download Official Breach Notice (PDF)Your Immediate Action Plan
Passaic Hospitalist Services and ApolloMD are offering complimentary credit-monitoring for affected patients, but there are additional steps you should take right now:
- Activate credit monitoring as soon as you receive the enrollment code.
- Review bank, credit-card, and insurance statements for unfamiliar charges.
- Place a free fraud alert or freeze with the three major credit bureaus.
- Watch for phishing emails, calls or texts that reference your medical care.
- Document any time or money lost responding to the breach—these records help support future claims.
Can You File a Lawsuit?
Under federal and state privacy laws, healthcare providers must safeguard patient information. When they fail, victims may seek damages for:
- Out-of-pocket expenses (credit monitoring, professional services, etc.)
- Time spent mitigating fraud or identity theft
- Emotional distress and loss of privacy
- Potential unreimbursed fraudulent charges
Class-action investigations are underway to determine whether ApolloMD and Passaic Hospitalist Services implemented adequate cybersecurity measures and provided timely notice. If you received a letter dated September 17, 2025—or later—you can explore your legal options.
How to Protect Yourself Going Forward
Data breaches have a long tail. Medical and Social Security numbers rarely change, making them valuable on dark-web marketplaces for years. Continuous monitoring and decisive action remain your best defense:
- Set calendar reminders to review your free annual credit reports.
- Update passwords and enable multi-factor authentication on patient portals.
- Consider a credit freeze until the investigation concludes.
- Keep all breach-related correspondence in a dedicated folder or secure cloud drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I was included in the Passaic Hospitalist Services data breach?
You should receive a mailed notification from ApolloMD or Passaic Hospitalist Services if your data was among the files accessed. The letters went out beginning September 17, 2025.
What should the breach letter from Passaic Hospitalist Services look like?
The envelope typically bears the ApolloMD name and provides an activation code for complimentary credit-monitoring. It also lists the categories of information compromised and the 833-397-6797 help-line.
Is the free credit-monitoring enough protection?
It’s a helpful start, but credit-monitoring alerts only flag new activity. You may still need to place a credit freeze, enable identity-theft insurance, and watch medical-benefit statements closely.
Can I join a lawsuit if I haven’t noticed fraud yet?
Yes. Courts recognize the increased risk of future identity theft as a concrete injury. You don’t have to prove current monetary loss to participate in many data-breach class actions.
How long will the Passaic Hospitalist Services investigation take?
Class-action investigations can take months before a complaint is filed. Once litigation begins, cases often resolve through settlement within one to three years, though timelines vary.
Will filing a claim cost me anything?
Most data-breach lawsuits are handled on a contingency basis, meaning attorneys advance costs and only collect fees if they obtain a recovery for the class.