Deloitte's Innovative Technology Helps State Government Clients Win NASCIO Recognition for Outstanding Achievement

New Mexico's Unemployment Insurance system wins Digital Government: Government to Citizen award

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Oct 23, 2014, 09:00 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte Consulting is proud to recognize the outstanding achievement of several clients that were honored by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) for their "exceptional contributions" to the field of Information Technology in State Government.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) won NASCIO's 2014 Digital Government: Government to Citizen Award for its Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System, while two other Deloitte clients – kynect and Washington Healthplanfinder, the state-based health insurance exchanges in Kentucky and Washington State – were finalists in this category.

In January 2013, Deloitte helped New Mexico become the first state in the nation to simultaneously launch a fully-integrated Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax & Claims System. This modern system, designed and developed by Deloitte, has enhanced the level of service to UI claimants and employers; significantly improved the efficiency and integrity of New Mexico's UI program; and strengthened the state's ability to reduce, detect, and recover improper UI payments.

"We congratulate Secretary Celina Bussey and her team at the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions for this well-deserved honor," said Mike Phelan, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "This UI project is an excellent example of how Deloitte works with clients to address many of their most complex, critical issues; achieve sustainable results; and create lasting impact for the citizens they serve."

"I want to thank Deloitte for their tremendous collaboration and significant contribution to the success of our modern UI system and the achievement of this award," said Secretary Bussey. "Deloitte gave us the confidence to make the right decisions and deliver extraordinary impact for our customers."

According to New Mexico's NASCIO award nomination, nearly all New Mexico employers now file their quarterly taxes online and 75 percent of them submit payments electronically. Likewise, over 70 percent of the 17,000 New Mexicans who certify for UI benefits each week do so using the self-service features of the new system.

UI claimants and employers now have online access to real-time information about their accounts, as well as historical claims data. NMDWS staff also has quick, electronic access to documentation associated with any claimant or employer accounts.

Deloitte's innovative technology has helped to improve the accuracy and consistency of New Mexico's UI program. Since the launch of the modern system, UI fraud in the state has been reduced by as much as 60 percent, and New Mexico's UI program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation by the U.S. Department of Labor for quality of claims determinations. The state's rate of improper payments has also dropped significantly – from the fourth highest in the nation in 2011 to the 26th highest in 2013, according to the award nomination.

Deloitte clients swept the Government to Citizen category. The other two finalists were the state-based health insurance exchanges in Kentucky and Washington State.

Since its launch in October 2013, Kentucky's state-based health benefits exchange has been hailed as a national model for its smooth operation and ease of use. According to its NASCIO nomination, "kynect is changing lives, outcomes, and the economic and health outlook of Kentuckians." Individuals and families now have access to affordable, quality health insurance; many for the very first time, and the success of kynect translates into a more competitive health care marketplace with more coverage options for the state's citizens.

Washington also has one of the nation's most successful state-based health insurance marketplaces. Washington Healthplanfinder has enrolled one million people and "revolutionized how the state provides access to comprehensive health coverage for its residents;" the exchange has also reduced the rate of uncompensated care, empowered consumers to make informed decisions and streamlined the eligibility process for the public and the state, according to its NASCIO nomination.

NASCIO State IT Recognition Award recipients were selected from a field of more than 100 nominees by NASCIO's awards committee. Projects and initiatives from NASCIO member states, territories, and the District of Columbia were eligible for nomination. Learn more about the recipients at www.nascio.org/awards/2014awards/.

About Deloitte's State Government practice
Deloitte has served state governments for more than 48 years, including 47 of the 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. With more than 3,400 professionals serving the state government sector, Deloitte focuses on six areas crucial to state governments: health and human services, finance and administration, law and justice, transportation, education, and labor and industry. To learn more, visit http://www.deloitte.com/us/stategovernment or follow us @DeloitteGov.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

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SOURCE Deloitte