Notice of Data Incident
The District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) is providing public notice of a data incident involving the Medicaid and the DC Healthcare Alliance (Alliance) programs in the District of Columbia.
On July 21, 2026, DHCF learned that two reports on DHCF’s website contained hidden personal information that could be accessed by people who did not have permission to view it. These reports were intended to display only summary information about groups of people, such as enrollment counts and other statistics, and did not show anyone’s personal details on the screen. However, underlying personal information that supported these reports may have been reachable by unauthorized users between 2023 and July 2026.
Once DHCF found out about this issue we took action right away and removed the reports from the website. Also, DHCF initiated a review to understand what happened and begun strengthening internal processes to ensure similar incidents do not happen in the future.
The information that could be seen may have included personal information such as Medicaid ID numbers, date of birth, provider name, race, gender, ward, or ethnicity. The information did not include beneficiary names, Social Security numbers or financial account information.
DHCF sincerely regrets any concern this incident may have caused and will be mailing individual notices to affected beneficiaries. Individuals who were enrolled in the Medicaid or Alliance programs between 2023 and July 2026 may contact DHCF’s tollfree number at 1-833-687-5424 if they have questions about this incident or believe they should have received a notice but did not.
Steps you can take to help protect your information
DHCF has no reason to believe anyone looked at or used any of this information in the wrong way, but it is always advisable to remain vigilant against the potential for identity theft and fraud and to monitor your accounts and credit reports for any suspicious activity.
Credit Report
Under U.S. law, you are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Obtaining a copy of your credit report from each agency on an annual basis, and reviewing it for suspicious activity, can help you spot problems and address them quickly.
You can request your free credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com or by phone at 1-877-322-8228. You can also request your free credit report by completing the request form at: www.annualcreditreport.com, and mailing it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You may wish to stagger your requests so that you receive a free report by one of the three credit bureaus every four months.
Fraud Alert
As a precaution against identity theft, you can consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file. A “fraud alert” tells creditors to contact you before opening a new account or changing an existing account. A fraud alert also lets your creditors know to watch for unusual or suspicious activity. To place a fraud alert, call any one of the three major credit reporting agencies listed below. An initial fraud alert remains effective for one year and is free of charge. If you wish, you can renew the fraud alert at the expiration of this initial period. As soon as one credit agency confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on your file.
- Equifax®
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348-5069
1-800-685-1111
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts - Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013-9701
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com/fraud/center.html - TransUnion®
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-1000
1-800-680-7289
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts
Security Freeze
Federal law also allows consumers to place, lift or remove a security freeze on their credit reports at no charge. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without written authorization. Be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit, mortgages, employment, housing, or other services.
To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must send a written request by regular, certified, or overnight mail at the addresses below to each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax (www.equifax.com); Experian (www.experian.com); and TransUnion (www.transunion.com). You may also request the security freeze through each of the credit reporting agencies’ websites or over the phone:
Equifax®
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
1-888-298-0045
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
TransUnion®
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
1-888-909-8872
www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
In order to request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:
- Your full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
- Social Security Number;
- Date of birth;
- If you have moved in the past five (5) years, provide the addresses where you have lived over the prior five years;
- Proof of current address such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
- A legible photocopy of a government issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, military identification, etc.); and
- If you are a victim of identity theft, include a copy of either the police report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft.
The credit reporting agencies must place a security freeze on your credit report within one business day if your request is submitted online or by phone, or within three (3) business days if your request is sent by mail https://www.usa.gov/credit-freeze.
The credit bureaus must also send written confirmation to you within five (5) business days and provide you with a unique personal identification number (PIN) or password, or both that can be used by you to authorize the removal or lifting of the security freeze.
To lift the security freeze in order to allow a specific entity or individual access to your credit report, you must call or send a written request to the credit reporting agencies by mail and include proper identification (name, address, and social security number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze as well as the identities of those entities or individuals you would like to receive your credit report or the specific period of time you want the credit report available. The credit reporting agencies have three (3) business days after receiving your request to lift the security freeze for those identified entities or for the specified period of time.
To remove the security freeze, you must send a written request to each of the three credit bureaus by mail and include proper identification (name, address, and social security number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze. The credit bureaus have three (3) business days after receiving your request to remove the security freeze or an hour if the request is online or by phone https://www.usa.gov/credit-freeze.
Additional Information
You may obtain additional information about identity theft by contacting the above credit reporting agencies, your state Attorney General, or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
You are advised to report known or suspected identity theft to law enforcement, including your state’s Attorney General and the FTC. Under the law, you have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this incident. If you are the victim of identity theft or fraud, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it.
For District of Columbia residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 400 6th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, oag.dc.gov, or 202-727-3400.
Click this link for a copy of the Breach Notification Letter