SECAUCUS, N.J., June 05, 2019 -- American Medical Collection Agency (AMCA), a collection agency, has disclosed that an unauthorized user had access to AMCA’s system between August 1, 2018, and March 30, 2019. The affected system contained personal information AMCA received from various entities, including Quest Diagnostics, other clinical laboratories and healthcare providers, as well as information AMCA collected itself. AMCA is a collection agency used by Optum360, which in turn is a Quest contractor, and other healthcare companies.

This incident did not affect Quest’s information technology systems or databases.

Only those Quest patients whose accounts were sent to AMCA for debt collection may have had information on AMCA’s affected system. AMCA has not yet provided to Quest a list of individuals whose information was on AMCA’s affected system. Quest and Optum360 are working with forensic experts to further investigate the matter.

AMCA’s affected system included information provided by Quest to help patients understand what they were being charged for, and to allow patients to submit an insurance claim when appropriate. AMCA’s affected system also included credit card or bank account information that was collected by AMCA.

Quest is taking this matter very seriously and is committed to the privacy and security of our patients’ personal information. Since learning of the AMCA data security incident, we have suspended sending collection requests to AMCA.

Quest is working with AMCA and Optum360 to ensure that Quest patients are appropriately notified consistent with the law.

We are committed to keeping our patients, health care providers, and all relevant parties informed as we learn more. For general information, individuals can call 866-MyQuest.