Blue Cross Blue Shield reports misuse of employee record to attorney general’s office

By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff

Health insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has referred to the state attorney general’s office a report that a vendor made “inappropriate use” of an employee record.

In a statement sent to about 15,000 current and former employees of the Boston-based health plan, chief human resources officer Jason Robart said Blue Cross Blue Shield has taken steps to safeguard employee information. While the insurer has no evidence the misuse went beyond one instance, it is offering free credit protection services to current and former employees and their family members, Robart said in the memo.

Robart stressed that the incident “is not a security breach, does not involve medical information, and does not affect the data of any of our members, employer or provider partners.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield spokeswoman Sharon Torgerson said the insurer was reaching out to employees because of concern about potential exposure of information such as names, dates of birth, compensation, bank account data, and social security numbers.