NAPHSIS and Cognizant Team Up to Transform Electronic Verification of Vital Records for Better Protection of Individual Identity

TEANECK, N.J., July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NAPHSIS (National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems) has selected Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) as a consulting and technology partner to transform its Electronic Verification of Vital Events (EVVE) system in order to make it easier for businesses and government entities to verify birth and death records, and prevent identity theft.

Cognizant will also help NAPHSIS grow its customer base by enhancing its marketing strategy and attracting new subscribers. The engagement will enable NAPHSIS to not just expand the usage of EVVE across federal and state agencies, but also make it available for the first time to authorized non-governmental organizations with proven administrative use or property right to query birth and death data.

EVVE allows subscribers to query the vital record systems of participating states to instantly confirm the information presented by applicants anywhere in the country, irrespective of the place or date of issuance of that information. The new and improved EVVE will match queries against 250 million birth records in participating vital record databases nationwide. By using a single interface, subscribers will now be able to verify the validity of a paper birth certificate or request an electronic certification in lieu of the paper birth certificate.

The system will also prevent fraudulent acts by flagging if the person matched is deceased, while also providing for the electronic verification and certification of death records. The new EVVE will also support broadcast or fact-of-death queries to help subscribers check if a death record exists anywhere in the U.S. for a particular individual.

"Each of us relies on our birth certificates as proof of age, citizenship or identity to fulfill requirements around employment, government documents, and public programs and benefits," said Patricia W. Potrzebowski, Executive Director of NAPHSIS. "Efficient, accurate, and timely verification of the validity of these documents is key to protecting individual identity and improving the effectiveness of health programs. Cognizant's consulting and technology capabilities will help NAPHSIS reinforce its leadership in vital records and related information systems. With more secure and efficient tracking of citizen information, the EVVE system will contribute significantly to the efforts to ensure appropriate use of personal information and enhance individual privacy."

"Appropriate and legal access to vital records is an essential component of the public health system in the U.S.," said David Johnson, Vice President of Cognizant's Global Public Sector practice. "These records serve as both research tools and measures for an array of state and federal health and welfare initiatives. We are pleased to have been selected by NAPHSIS for this important program to challenge the status quo by not just improving the performance of EVVE, but also reimagining NAPHSIS' business and marketing models for future needs. With a stronger technology and marketing backbone, EVVE will play an even more important role across a wide variety of programs that benefit virtually every citizen in the U.S."

About NAPHSIS
NAPHSIS (National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems) is the professional association of state vital records and public health statistics offices in the United States. Founded in 1933, Washington, DC-based NAPHSIS is a non-profit association that represents members from all fifty U.S. states, five territories, New York City, and the District of Columbia. Vital Records offices produce legal birth and death certificates and collect critical health and demographic data. The mission of NAPHSIS is to provide national leadership for both vital records and related information systems in order to establish and protect individual identity and improve population health. For more information, please visit: www.naphsis.org.  

About Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, dedicated to helping the world's leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 75 development and delivery centers worldwide and approximately 178,600 employees as of March 31, 2014, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant.  

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors discussed in our most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cognizant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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