Penalty Amount
$365,212
Aetna, Inc. settled with New Jersey and other states over allegations that it improperly disclosed protected health information of thousands of individuals through mailings that revealed HIV/AIDS status and AFib study participation. The settlement requires Aetna to implement policy reforms, hire an independent consultant, and pay a civil penalty of $365,211.59 to New Jersey.
Aetna must implement policy and training reforms to safeguard health information, hire an independent consultant to evaluate and monitor compliance with injunctive terms, and pay a civil penalty of $365,211.59 to New Jersey.
In-house legal teams should review all agreements involving protected health information (PHI), such as business associate agreements (BAAs) with vendors, customer contracts for health services, and employee confidentiality agreements. Key clauses to scrutinize include data sharing provisions, confidentiality obligations, breach notification requirements, and compliance with HIPAA and state privacy laws like the New Jersey AIDS Assistance Act. Specific attention should be paid to mailing and disclosure protocols to prevent inadvertent exposure of sensitive information, such as HIV/AIDS status or study participation. Revisions may be needed to mandate secure mailing practices (e.g., opaque envelopes), require regular training on PHI handling, include audit rights for monitoring third-party compliance, and update consent mechanisms for health-related communications.
Entity
Aetna, Inc.
Also known as: Aetna
Industry
InsuranceOfficial Press Release
https://www.njoag.gov/ag-grewal-reaches-settlement-with-aetna-over-privacy-violations-aetna-mailings-improperly-disclosed-addressees-protected-health-information/
New Jersey Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-consumer-affairs/
"settlement agreement with Aetna, Inc."
"Aetna will pay a civil penalty of $365,211.59 to New Jersey."
"violated the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)"
"The New Jersey AIDS Assistance Act, for example, prohibits the disclosure of any record that contains identifying information about a person who has, or is suspected of having, AIDS or HIV, without the person’s written consent or statutory authorization."
"improperly disclosed protected health information"
$18.0M
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport joined a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general in announcing a settlement with the bankruptcy trustee for 23andMe, resolving allegations from a 2023 data breach that compromised genetic data of 6.9 million people worldwide, including nearly 150,000 in New Jersey. The settlement provides $18 million to states from available bankruptcy funds, plus enhanced data security and consumer deletion rights for the successor entity, 23andMe Research Institute.
$45.0M
Block, Inc. agreed to a $45 million multistate settlement with 46 states for allegedly misleading consumers about the safety of Cash App, failing to protect users from fraud, and not providing promised fraud protection. The settlement requires Block to improve customer support, stop misleading claims, and educate consumers about fraud.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport co-led a coalition of 49 attorneys general in calling on the FCC to strengthen rules to cut off scammers' access to legitimate telephone numbers. The coalition's letter requests stronger certification rules, regular reporting, and prohibitions on number cycling to combat illegal robocalls.
Governor Sherrill and Attorney General Davenport announced coordinated executive actions to reduce and eliminate junk fees in New Jersey. The initiative includes an Executive Order directing state agencies to review industries for junk fees and an Enforcement Statement from the Division of Consumer Affairs explaining how junk fee practices may violate the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
The New Jersey Bureau of Securities announced its 2026 annual investment adviser examination, with a particular focus on firms' use of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity protocols. The examination requires nearly 800 registered investment adviser firms to answer questions about AI use in portfolio management, data protection policies, and third-party vendor due diligence. Failure to comply may result in administrative action.
The New Jersey Bureau of Securities filed a lawsuit against Xiao Hu (aka Mark Hu) and his companies Skyline Technology USA LLC and Thunderbirds.ME, Inc. for allegedly defrauding at least 15 investors out of $2.5 million through unregistered securities offerings. Hu allegedly misappropriated at least $280,000 for personal expenses including a home purchase and vacation, and falsely claimed to have a Ph.D. from Columbia University.