NYSHIP/Empire ALERT
On August 12th, Health Now (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York)
confirmed that certain enrollee information in the possession of its
subcontractor ID card vendor, Newkirk Products, Inc. (Newkirk), may have
been accessed from a data security incident involving their contractor,
Newkirk Products, Inc. (Newkirk). Newkirk issues health care ID cards
for Health Now. This incident occurred on May 21, 2016 and was
discovered on July 6, 2016. This incident does not involve or affect
any systems maintained by the State of New York, including NYSHIP and
Health Now. There are approximately 12,500 NYSHIP members in Health Now.
We are advised that the information potentially accessed may consist of
member and dependent names, mailing address(es), type of plan, and
member and group ID number. We have been assured that Social Security
numbers, banking and credit card information, date of birth and medical
claim data information were not accessed.
Newkirk has advised that it will be mailing notifications to all
potentially affected individuals. Newkirk is also offering two years of
identity protection and restoration services through AllClear ID, at no
cost to affected individuals. Information regarding this incident may be
obtained by visiting
www.newkirkproductsfacts.com
or calling 1-855-303-9773 (TTY/TDD:711). This telephone number will be
staffed Monday through Saturday from 9 A.M. until 9 P.M., Eastern
Standard Time.