{"id":2568525,"date":"2026-02-10T19:17:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T00:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bill-cassidy-investigating-jb-pritzkers-handling-of-health-records-breach\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T19:20:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T00:20:54","slug":"bill-cassidy-investigating-jb-pritzkers-handling-of-health-records-breach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bill-cassidy-investigating-jb-pritzkers-handling-of-health-records-breach\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Cassidy investigating JB Pritzker&#8217;s handling of health records breach"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbill-cassidy-investigating-jb-pritzkers-handling-of-health-records-breach%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2568525&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the Senate health committee, has launched an inquiry into Gov. JB Pritzker\u2019s administration over how it handled a data breach that exposed private health information of about 700,000 Illinois residents.Cassidy is seeking detailed records from the Illinois Department of Human Services after it reportedly left sensitive health data on a publicly accessible website for more than three years and delayed notifying affected individuals. The inquiry follows Illinois\u2019 latest breach disclosures, including a January report that the department found \u201cincorrect privacy settings\u201d on a state site exposing data for tens of thousands of rehabilitation recipients and hundreds of thousands of Medicaid\/Medicare Savings Program beneficiaries, even though officials said there was no known misuse.<\/p>\n<p>key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Cassidy wants information on current cybersecurity protocols and steps already taken to improve security after the 2024 breach,and why notification to affected individuals occurred only in January despite discovery earlier.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The letter, sent to the Pritzker administration and IDHS, requests a response by February 25 and highlights Cassidy\u2019s subpoena power as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-plans-pr-blitz-to-push-covid-19-relief-bill\/\" title=\"White House plans PR blitz to push COVID...19 relief bill\">senate committee chair<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Cassidy contends Illinois may have violated HIPAA notification requirements, which mandate informing affected individuals within 60 days of breach discovery.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Pritzker\u2019s office did not respond to requests for comment, and the article notes the broader political context, including Cassidy\u2019s reelection bid and Pritzker\u2019s potential 2028 presidential ambitions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senate GOP investigating Pritzker administration over Illinois health records breach<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2478920\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash; <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\">Sen. Bill Cassidy<\/a> (R-LA), chairman of the Senate&rsquo;s health committee, has launched an inquiry into the administration of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jb-pritzker\/\">Gov. JB Pritzker<\/a> (D-IL) over its handling of a recent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/post\/illinois-department-human-services-reports-yearslong-data-breach-residents-private-health-related-information\/18362578\/\">data breach<\/a> that exposed the private health information of 700,000 state residents.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy is seeking detailed records from the Illinois Department of Human Services after leaving sensitive health-related information on a publicly accessible website for more than three years and delaying notification to affected individuals, according to a letter sent Tuesday by the senator to the Pritzker administration and obtained by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4453155\/tom-malinowski-vows-oppose-candidate-endorsed-aipac\/\">New Jersey Democratic primary runner-up vows to oppose any candidate endorsed by AIPAC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4452874\/hochul-challenger-antonio-delgado-drops-out-of-new-york-gubernatorial-race\/\">Hochul challenger Antonio Delgado drops out of New York gubernatorial race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4452537\/tom-malinowski-cedes-new-jersey-special-primary-election-analilia-mejia\/\">Tom Malinowski concedes New Jersey primary election to Analilia Mejia<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The congressional scrutiny sets the stage for a high-stakes clash between Cassidy, who&rsquo;s fighting for reelection against a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4425255\/julia-letlow-trump-launches-senate-challenge-bill-cassidy\/\">Trump-backed primary challenger<\/a>, and Pritzker, a possible 2028 presidential candidate who&rsquo;s tussled with the Trump administration over its immigration enforcement operations in the Prairie State.<\/p>\n<p>The most recent data breach, revealed by Illinois officials in early January, months after it was initially discovered, &ldquo;raises questions&rdquo; about the state&rsquo;s &ldquo;commitment to data security,&rdquo; Cassidy wrote to Illinois health secretary Dulce Quintero and Pritzker. It came on the heels of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/security\/illinois-human-services-breach-compromises-data-of-1m#:~:text=The%20data%20breach%20last%20year%20by%20an,of%20files%20that%20included%20Social%20Security%20numbers.\">2024 hacking<\/a> into the Illinois Department of Human Services that exposed the private information of more than 1 million people, including roughly 4,700 whose Social Security numbers were exposed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Despite IDHS&rsquo; role in helping vulnerable communities, its repeated failures to implement basic security processes highlight IDHS&rsquo; disregard of its responsibility to over 4.6 million Illinois residents,&rdquo; Cassidy wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy laid out detailed questions in his letter and requested a response by Feb. 25. Being in the majority, the Senate Republican chairman holds immense subpoena power to compel information and testimony.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy&rsquo;s line of questioning included why the department did not notify affected parties until January after discovering the security incident more than three months earlier in September 2025, requesting information about its current cybersecurity protocols and what steps were previously taken to improve data security following the 2024 breach.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From l-r: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., attends a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 9, 2025, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at his family&rsquo;s soccer gear business, Sept. 4, 2025, in Berwyn, Ill. (AP Photos\/Allison Robbert\/Erin Hooley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In a Jan. 2 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/idhs.prezly.com\/notice-to-the-media-from-illinois-department-of-human-services-incident-involving-protected-health-information\">news release<\/a>, the Illinois Department of Human Services revealed &ldquo;incorrect privacy settings&rdquo; on a state government website exposed the health data of more than 32,000 recipients of the state&rsquo;s Division of Rehabilitation Services for people with disabilities and 672,000 recipients of the Medicaid and Medicare Savings Program for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/medicare-drugs-could-cost-500b-more-than-expected\/\" title=\"Medicare Drugs Could Cost 0B More Than Expected\">low-income beneficiaries<\/a>. The data was uploaded to a &ldquo;mapping website&rdquo; of the Division of Family and Community Services&rsquo; Bureau of Planning and Evaluation under the human services department to assist the agency &ldquo;with resource allocation decisions, such as determining where to open new local offices.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The mapping website was unable to identify who viewed the maps,&rdquo; the statement read. &ldquo;To date, IDHS is unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of personal information as a result of this incident.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3878956\/congressional-budget-office-hacked\/\">CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYS IT WAS HACKED IN &lsquo;SECURITY INCIDENT&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cassidy suggested Illinois violated federal law under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that requires notifying affected individuals and the public no later than 60 days after the discovery of a breach.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Protecting the privacy and security of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-effective-is-your-cancer-medication-the-industry-might-not-even-know\/\" title=\"How Effective Is Your Cancer Medication? The Industry Might Not Even Know\">sensitive health information<\/a> is essential to ensure that patients receive the best care and that their information is not misused,&rdquo; Cassidy wrote in his letter. &ldquo;Cyber criminals continue to exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to this data, potentially using it to interrupt care and commit fraud.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GOP probes Pritzker over Illinois health data breach<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2568526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-collage-a081k0gy8-1770761499128-e1770761894933.jpg?1770749241&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[6677,73526,73527,3976,20657],"class_list":["post-2568525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-cassidy","tag-health-records-breach","tag-illinois-politics-2","tag-investigation","tag-pritzker"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-collage-a081k0gy8-1770761499128-e1770761894933.jpg?1770749241&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2568525"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2568529,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568525\/revisions\/2568529"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2568526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2568525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2568525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2568525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}