Sunday, January 28, 2007

News you can use....Links

State Plans Medicaid Experiment- Dallas Morning News

Here's a Budget Priority For You- OfftheKuff.com

HHSC Reverses Course on Welfare Privatization-Father John Whiteford


I also wanted to comment on the "change" in the contract. Correct me if I'm wrong, but does it now sound like Accenture/TAA have become nothing more than glorified clerical staff- now that it sounds like all they have to do is scan in documents?

Under the restructured contract, the Bermuda-based company will be largely relegated to data entry, leaving judgments about whether Texans qualify for food stamps, Medicaid and other welfare programs to state workers
So it sounds like the same thing WE were doing BEFORE TAA. Right?
We have to spend millions still for this?
Why?

Edited to add: Wanted to add the comment that was left so it won't be missed...I've bolded what stood out to me.....

I absolutely agree with your point here. I was at mini-lobby day on Wed. and this was the point we kept hammering home with the legislators. Throughout the next few months, it would be good to remind your state legislators and the members of the appropriations/finance committees and health and human service committees that it makes no fiscal sense to spend the same amt. of money (per year) for three years for Accenture to do less work. By the way, I did ask the question of whether the $543 million still being spent included money for TIERS maintenance or info. broker (because this will still go to Accenture for the full 5 years) and was told that this money is separate.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I absolutely agree with your point here. I was at mini-lobby day on Wed. and this was the point we kept hammering home with the legislators. Throughout the next few months, it would be good to remind your state legislators and the members of the appropriations/finance committees and health and human service committees that it makes no fiscal sense to spend the same amt. of money (per year) for three years for Accenture to do less work. By the way, I did ask the question of whether the $543 million still being spent included money for TIERS maintenance or info. broker (because this will still go to Accenture for the full 5 years) and was told that this money is separate.

Anonymous said...

We must send word to our legislature that TIERS is a cost we can not afford. On Thursday Jan. 25th, we had a visit from Judy Lugo, TSEU President. Ms.Lugo mentioned that on Friday Jan. 26th, our HHSC reps. presented a TIERS presentation in Austin. She mentioned that she spoke to many state reps. on the hidden costs of TIERS. Hidden costs
included paying state staff who now work in Region 7 on a temp basis.She mentioned that we are paying for hotel stays.Just one worker on a temp assignment in Austin, can cost the state at least $2000 plus per month (overtime, food, travel, and hotel). It seems that our legislature reps.had no idea that we were still paying for staff to work in region 7 but have been sent there by other regions.

Anonymous said...

What do you know about hiring 900 of the temporary staff as perm. employees. I read somewhere that 700 had already been hired. Who,how,when,where?

A Temp

Anonymous said...

From what I can tell, it appears that most of the permanent positions have gone to CBS and CPC and someone else that I don't remember. It appears that none of the permanent positions so far are doing anything to help the field offices. It is also my understanding that until all the 900 positions have been dealt with, there is a hiring freeze in the field offices. This does not appear to affect state office as I hear they are creating a new unit to deal with client complaints. And so it goes.......How the legislators could ever believe that creating a mega agency would decrease the number of positions at the state office level is enough to boggle the mind.

Anonymous said...

They are creating a unit just to deal with complaints? What in the heck is going on? Why a hiring freeze? There are not still enough to do the job now? What is CBS and CPC?

Anonymous said...

CBS handles SNAP, pure SSI cases, things like that. CPC does the Children's Meds that are deemed over from CHIP. Hiring freeze is supposed to give them a chance to see exactly how many people are employed and permanent/temp so that decisions can be made as to where the permanent positions are needed and will go and is supposed to be very temporary.

Anonymous said...

I see that Comm. Hawkins is being reviewed tomorrow in the nominations committee. When our clients are reviewed they need to provide proof of their income. They are to sign a form under penalty of perjury that they are telling the truth. When an employee has a review with most organizations, they must show they have been competent at the least. How can Hawkins be passed on (though I sure he will be) considering what a poor job he has done regarding the Accenture contract and with managing the unworkable TIERS. I hope some tough questions are asked.

Anonymous said...

Have you noticed the new salary for temp workers, I was hired in at $2021, raised to $2081. I am now seeing a max at like $2500- what's up with that? Pretty big difference???

hhscsurvivalist said...

Difference for the max would be in cases where a previous worker or retiree or transfer from another part of the agency would come in.

NOTE: I am so glad that you carry on the work! I am too overloaded now..doing what I can but can't blog.

Anonymous said...

Guess what? The feds audited hhsc and said IEE and Tiers is not working. The report is on the sao web page. Look at page 127. TIERS, 07-13 on page 126/136 PDF. www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/07-316.pdf