Notice of Data Incident
August 1, 2023

Dear Patients:
We post this Notice pursuant to the United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) to inform you about a data incident involving an unauthorized release of patient Protected Health Information (“PHI”), as that is defined by HIPAA, at Gary Motykie, M.D., a Medical Corporation and Gary Motykie, M.D. (“Practice”), a covered entity under HIPAA.

PHI, as defined by HIPAA, is information that is “created, received, maintained, or transmitted by or on behalf of the health care component of the Covered Entity.” § 164.105 (a)(2)(i)(D). Information that is created or received by a Covered Entity and that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual; or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of healthcare to an individual is considered PHI. PHI is required to be protected when transmitted or maintained in any form by a Covered Entity. Individual identifiers (including but not limited to name, address, telephone number, fax, email address, social security number, medical record number, etc.) maintained in a designated record set along with health information (including but not limited to x-rays, images, scans, physician notes, diagnoses, treatment, eligibility approvals, claims, remittances, etc.) are collectively considered PHI.

Event Description:
On or about June 6, 2023, an initial technical analysis of the Practice’s information technology network determined an unauthorized release of PHI occurred to an unknown third party. The initial analysis determined that the unknown third party accessed the Practice’s network. It was further determined that the unknown third party acquired some of the Practice’s patient’s unencrypted PHI and that party was not authorized to do so and did so in an unlawful manner.

The information that may have been accessed or acquired during this unauthorized access included:

  • First and last name 
  • Social Security Number (if provided)
  • Address
  • Driver’s license or identification card number
  • Financial account or payment card number, in combination with any required CVV code
  • Intake forms, which may include medical information and history
  • Images taken in connection with the services rendered at our office
  • Health insurance information (if provided)
Steps Taken to Address:
Upon discovery, the Practice took the following immediate steps to address the situation:
  • Computers and servers replaced
  • Network passwords changed
  • Endpoint detection, virus, and malware detection tools and software installed on workstations and server
  • Limitations concerning Internet access
  • Access controls put in place for users based on role and responsibility
  • Server policies in place
  • Device locking mechanisms
  • Multi factor authentication enabled
  • Network segregation efforts
  • Encryption of devices
  • Additional workforce training
Risk Assessment:

The Practice conducted a risk assessment to evaluate the potential harm to potentially impacted individuals. Based on that assessment, it is determined that there is a high risk of harm. It is essential for potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant in monitoring their personal accounts and data and promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement or their financial institutions.

Assistance and Resources:
Starting on or about June 22, 2023, letters were mailed to patients providing the following resources to assist the potentially impacted individuals, offering at no cost:
  • two (2) years of no cost Triple Bureau Credit Monitoring/Triple Bureau Credit Report/Triple Bureau Credit Score/Cyber Monitoring services.
  • the services also include reviewing whether Information appears on the dark web and alert the individual if such Information is found online.
  • proactive fraud assistance to help with any questions in event a potentially impacted persons becomes a victim of fraud.

Steps to Prevent Future Incidents: We deeply regret any inconvenience or concern this Incident may cause. The Practice is taking numerous steps to help prevent similar Incidents in the future. We will continue to review and enhance our security measures, policies, and employee training.

If you failed to receive your letter in the mail, and/or if there is a concern your mailing address has changed since you were a patient at the Practice, please contact 1-800-405-6108 or call our office immediately at 310-246-2355 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday.

Blog

Dr. Motykie’s The Healing Curve Breast Cancer Charity

Ever since the establishing of his plastic surgery practice, Dr. Gary Motykie has consistently remained in touch with various community issues, and made contributions in several ways. He is motivated by the idea of using his skills and experience to provide a healing touch to those in need wherever possible. This passion became a foundation for the establishment of “The Healing Curve,” a nonprofit organization that Dr. Motykie formed in 2008.

Dr. Motykie felt inspired to launch The Healing Curve following his appearance in the episodes of E! Entertainment’s popular TV show Dr. 90210. During the filming of these episodes, Dr. Motykie performed reconstructive breast surgeries to restore the physical and emotional well-being and rebuild the confidence of women who had survived breast cancer.

Key Role of the Organization

The Healing Curve has been set up to perform a key role of providing medical support to women who have beaten breast cancer, but are left to struggle with the post-op challenges of breast tissue loss and scars. This can occur following a mastectomy or breast removal procedure to treat the patient and save her life.

The Healing Curve provides financial assistance and other forms of support to enable these patients undergo corrective surgeries to address the physical deformities that may have occurred as an outcome of cancer, severe injury, previous unsuccessful surgeries, and/or birth deformities.

Financial Support for Breast Reconstruction

The Healing Curve came into being with the primary goal of providing reconstructive surgical procedures to breast cancer survivors. A number of patients who undergo breast cancer surgery may be left feeling inadequate following the primary surgery because they cannot afford secondary procedures to complete the reconstruction and restore the aesthetics. Insurance companies usually cover the initial costs of breast reconstruction, but may not cover secondary surgeries.

This is where The Healing Curve makes effective interventions to help those who do not have the financial means to bear the costs of these secondary procedures. In Dr. Motykie’s own words: “I started The Healing Curve to help those women who have won the battle against breast cancer but have lost their breasts, their femininity and their self-esteem in the process. These women have already been through so much with cancer itself; they deserve the best possible breast reconstruction that plastic surgery can offer.”

Expanding the Scope

Once The Healing Curve organization was on its feet, Dr. Motykie quickly found out that the need for such surgeries extended beyond just the breast cancer survivors. The organization decided to reach out to all survivors who may have suffered a physical deformity arising from an earlier surgery, serious injury or illness, or congenital defects.

Dr. Motykie’s original goal to perform breast cancer procedures on the Dr. 90210 series was to allow people to know how plastic surgery can restore hope in the lives of the patients. However, the show’s overwhelming response led the organization to embrace all patients who had suffered physical deformities due to any reasons, and were facing financial constraints to overcome those deformities through surgery.

To see more services and treatments provided by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Motykie in Beverly Hills | Los Angeles and his team please visit:

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