Joint Unemployment Compensation Program

2021 Annual Report

Message From The Administrator

Throughout 2021, we continued to serve members with services while monitoring the ongoing issue of fraudulent claims which contributed to a massive backlog of claim determinations for the Department of Workforce Solutions to process. 

The CARES Act gave states the discretion to not charge employers for COVID-related claims and New Mexico took advantage of that option.  Our staff carefully scrutinizes claims and benefit charges to ensure our facilities are only paying claims for which they should be charged.  As the federal government continues to work its way through populating the promised funds in the promised accounts, we continue to work with DWS to ensure Covid-upheaval has a minimal or at least an accurate impact on our members.  We also serve as a communication conduit for members when the State determines how it will handle the issues it has come across in these unprecedented times.

For over 45 years, the Joint Unemployment Compensation Program has been assisting our members to minimize the cost of unemployment claims.  Thank you for the privilege of serving your facilities. 

 Erika Campos, Plan Administrator, Joint Unemployment Compensation Program

Staff

Administrator

Erika Campos ecampos@nmhsc.com

Operations

Risk Management Manager, Cindy Clark cclark@nmhsc.com

Unemployment Compensation Analyst, Beth Pospishil-Irizarry bpospishil-irizarry@nmhsc.com

Administrative Assistant, Christina Rico crico@nmhsc.com

Finance

Chief Financial Officer, Jody Belkofer jbelkofer@nmhsc.com

JUCP By the numbers

9.5%

Increase in claims in 2021

95%

Increase in Fraud Claims in 2021 compared to 2020

67%

Fewer furloughs in 2021 due to COVID-19

100%

Percentage reimbursable employers continued to receive of federal and state relief for the first quarter of 2021

75%

Federal relief percentage for the second and third quarters of 2021

JUCP Committee Members

  • Eddie Carraro

    VP, Chief Human Resources Officer

    San Juan Regional Medical Center

    Farmington, NM

  • Sara Frasch, Ph. D

    Human Resources Administrator

    University of New Mexico Hospitals

    Albuquerque, NM

  • Christopher Harris

    Director of Human Resources

    Cibola General Hospital

    Grants, NM

  • Ming Huang

    Chief Financial Officer

    Sierra Vista Hospital

    Truth or Consequences, NM

  • Bernadette Maki

    Human Resources Director

    UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center

    Rio Rancho, NM

  • Teri Norris

    Employee Relations Manager

    Presbyterian Healthcare Services

    Albuquerque, NM

  • Kevin Nowell, Chair

    Tax Director

    Presbyterian Healthcare Services

    Albuquerque, NM

  • Josue Rodriguez

    Human Resources Director

    Nor-Lea Hospital District

    Lovington, NM

  • Teresa Villanueva

    Director of Human Resources

    Roosevelt General Hospital

    Portales, NM

Accomplishments and Achievements

In 2021, the Joint Unemployment Compensation Program saw a 9.5% increase in claims over 2020.  Fraud claims in 2021 rose by 95% over 2020.  Fraud claims were on the rise across the nation and New Mexico was not spared.  There were two types of fraud claims going through the system.  We saw identity theft claims as well as program fraud which results when an employee attempts to obtain unemployment benefits even though they are still employed. The Department of Workforce Solutions investigated the fraud claims to determine what actions would be taken based on the type of fraud claim that was filed.  The COVID-19 pandemic continued throughout 2021 Layoffs due to COVID-19 decreased by 67% in 2021 from 2020.  Reimbursable employers continued to receive 100% federal and state relief for the first quarter of 2021 and 75% federal relief for the second and third quarters of 2021. 

Claims continued to be processed by the Department of Workforce Solutions and undetermined claims remained high.   Our UC Team has worked diligently throughout the year monitoring our members accounts and auditing benefit charge statements. This became a very important process when our members became financially responsible for charges.  The information has been updated and sent to the Department of Workforce Solutions to have our issues and concerns addressed.  Many employer accounts have also received penalty and interest charges for non-payment of benefit charges.  We will continue to work on getting these charges removed as they resulted due to a delay in the federal reimbursements.   

UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico

The Joint Unemployment Compensation Program Committee rewarded its members with surplus refunds when actuarially determined reserve balances from prior years were exceeded.  This past year, over $1,424,000 in surplus was returned to the members.  

In 2020 HSC launched a new software platform.  The new application enabled employers to respond to claims quickly and provide the needed information for the Unemployment Analyst to ensure employees were receiving timely benefits.   With the feedback we received in 2021our developers enhanced the software.

The committee placed the goal of prevailing in misconduct terminations on hold as the sheer volume of claims remained at an unprecedented level. The committee has elected to keep this goal open to address when claims return to a normal level.

Our Membership

Private Fund

  • CHRISTUS St. Vincent

    CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center is a general hospital located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. The hospital is the oldest in the State of New Mexico, since being established in the downtown plaza before it was moved in 1977 to developing St. Michaels Drive.

  • Cibola General Hospital

    Cibola General Hospital was established in 1959 to provide Cibola County, New Mexico, with the exceptional healthcare services that promote community wellness and improve quality of life. The hospital has been successful on both counts, offering patients and their families from throughout northwestern New Mexico the finest possible combination of compassionate care and leading-edge technology.

  • Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital

    Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital is committed to the health and well-being of the people and communities of the Tucumcari area. In addition to offering comprehensive medical care for various stages of life, Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital works to assist in the growth and development of each member of our community. Join us in our commitment to the community.

  • Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center

    Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center is a general hospital, owned and operated by the non-profit Otero County Hospital Association, that serves the Alamogordo, New Mexico area. It is the first military/civilian shared hospital facility in the United States. GCRMC is accredited by the Det Norske Veritas.

  • Holy Cross Medical Center

    Holy Cross Hospital is the leading care provider throughout northern New Mexico. As a leading rural hospital in the United States, Holy Cross has always endeavored to be on the cutting edge of innovative care; proud of its heritage, and embedded deeply in the daily life of this remarkable community.

  • Lincoln County Medical Center

    Lincoln County Medical Center has served the Ruidoso and Lincoln County community since 1950 when the facility first opened as the Ruidoso-Hondo Valley General Hospital. Lincoln County Medical Center is owned by the County of Lincoln, and, since 1972, Lincoln County Medical Center has been leased and managed by Presbyterian Healthcare Services, greatly aiding in its growth and advancement.

  • Plains Regional Medical Center

    Plains Regional Medical Center is committed to the health and well-being of the people and communities of eastern New Mexico and west Texas. In addition to offering comprehensive medical care for every stage of life, Plains Regional Medical Center works for the growth and development of each member of our community. Join us in our commitment to the community.

  • Presbyterian Espanola Hospital

    Presbyterian Española Hospital is an acute care hospital located in Española, New Mexico. As a not-for-profit hospital with 80 licensed beds, Presbyterian Española Hospital exists to improve the health of the patients, members, and communities we serve in northern New Mexico.

  • Presbyterian Hospital

    Presbyterian Healthcare Services is a private not-for-profit healthcare system and healthcare provider in the State of New Mexico. It owns and operates 8 hospitals in 7 New Mexico communities. It also operates Presbyterian Health Plan.

  • Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital

    Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital works for a healthy, productive community. Through volunteering opportunities and outreach events organized through the Presbyterian Foundation, we bring the community together.

  • Presbyterian Medical Services

    At Presbyterian Medical Services, we believe that the best way to improve community health and wellbeing is for everyone to work together. That’s why we work collaboratively with community groups, school districts, local providers, hospitals, and governments at every level. Together, we develop programs and services that meet the needs of the people living within these communities, and we continue expanding into communities that invite our involvement.

  • Presbyterian Rust Medical Center

    Presbyterian Rust Medical Center works for a healthy, productive community. Through volunteering opportunities and outreach events organized through the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, we help bring the community together.

  • Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center

    Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center works for a healthy, productive community. Through volunteering opportunities and outreach events organized through the Presbyterian Foundation, we help to bring the community together.

  • Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services

    Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services Services (RMCHCS) is an integrated delivery system providing care for northwestern New Mexico and eastern Arizona. We are proud to continue a history of healthcare dating back to the early 1900s. As a private, not-for-profit healthcare system, we are committed to improving the health and wellness of our community and the individuals for whom we care.

  • San Juan Regional Medical Center

    San Juan Regional Medical Center is a 194 bed, Level III Trauma Center that provides healthcare to the Four Corners region of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, in the United States. In October 2010, SJRMC received a three-year accreditation by Det Norske Veritas.

  • Socorro General Hospital

    Socorro General Hospital is committed to the health and well-being of the people and communities of Socorro and Catron counties. In addition to offering comprehensive medical care for every stage of life, Socorro General Hospital works for the growth and development of each member of our community. Join us in our commitment to the community.

Public Fund

  • Gila Regional Medical Center

    GRMC is county-owned, not-for-profit, and currently licensed as a 25-bed critical access hospital. GRMC leadership is committed to the people we serve. We are dedicated to providing exceptional quality, patient-centered care in healing environments. In addition to our multiple primary care and specialty service clinics, GRMC is home to the Cancer Center and the Surgical Center of the Southwest.

  • Jal Hospital District

    Jal Hospital District is a Medical Group that has only one practice medical office located in Jal NM. There are 2 health care providers, specializing in Family Practice, Nurse Practitioner, being reported as members of the medical group. Medical taxonomies which are covered by Jal Hospital District include Family Medicine, Family.

  • Nor-Lea Hospital District

    Nor-Lea Hospital District is a not-for-profit, community-based healthcare organization that owns and operates Nor-Lea Medical Clinics; Nor-Lea Professional Physicians Center; Nor-Lea Cancer Center; Nor-Lea Home Medical and Nor-Lea General Hospital, a 25 bed Medicare-certified facility.

  • Roosevelt General Hospital

    We stand united in our efforts to provide the best care possible for our patients. We recognize healthcare is no longer dependent on a single provider but is a team sport in which all members play an important role. We support each other and respect the unique skills each person possesses. We also stand in unity with our community and commit to collaborative partnerships for the good of all.

  • Sierra Vista Hospital

    We are a community-operated 15-bed Critical Access Hospital and we are members of the New Mexico Hospitals and Health Systems Association. Sierra Vista Hospital‘s commitment has always been to serve the 13,000 residents, as well as the 900,000 visitors who come to enjoy Sierra County and Elephant Butte Lake State Park annually. We are committed to providing healthcare that is sensitive, compassionate, promptly delivered, and cost-effective.

  • University of New Mexico Hospital

    The University of New Mexico Hospital is a public teaching hospital located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, immediately north of the main campus of the University of New Mexico

  • UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center

    UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center serves to improve the overall health of the community by providing the highest-quality health care services that meet the needs of Sandoval County's diverse population, as well as providing, increasingly over time, health care and medical educational opportunities through partnerships with the UNM School of Medicine, UNM College of Nursing, UNM College of Pharmacy and Central New Mexico Community College.

Hospital Servces Corporation


7471 Pan American Freeway NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109

PO Box 92200

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87199-2200

505-343-0070

Toll-Free 866.908.0070

www.nmhospitalservices.com