The recent security breach involving a company that once managed prescription drug benefits for some NYSUT locals has highlighted the need for all NYSUT members to know how to respond to identity theft.

The breach involved Express Scripts, a company that administered prescription drug benefits for more than 300,000 New York state and local public employees on the Empire Plan between 1999 and 2005.

In addition to a number of NYSUT affiliates in the New York metropolitan area and on Long Island, that list included members of United University Professions, the NYSUT affiliate that represents about 35,000 academic and professional faculty at the State University of New York.

As UUP has explained on its Web site — www.uupinfo.org — so far, there has been no reported misuse of any personal information.

NYSUT members who want to learn more about this growing crime have several options.

NYSUT Member Benefits has a presentation on identify theft that locals can request for their membership.

For additional information about the presentation, contact Member Benefits at 800-626-8101.

NYSUT members who are customers of MetLife Auto and Home insurance or the MetBank program have identity theft resolution services provided to them at no extra cost.

Members can also purchase Member Benefits-endorsed Equifax Credit Watch Gold, a credit report monitoring system, at a significantly discounted rate. Visit www.memberbenefits.nysut.org for details.