The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) plans to request $300 million from the state legislature to address extensive delays in processing Medicaid applications. This funding would facilitate hiring over 1,000 new employees and modernizing the outdated and heavily criticized Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS). A further $100 million could come from the federal government if the legislature approves.
According to the Texas Tribune, the initiative aims to reduce the current average processing time for Medicaid applications, which stands at 59 days—well beyond the federally mandated 45-day period. The backlog includes approximately 131,869 pending applications. The proposed improvements are expected to expedite application reviews, ensuring that eligible Texans receive benefits more promptly.
At present, when someone applies for Medicaid, they can use the Texas Benefits website or Your Texas Benefits app. However, the information needs to be manually input into the TIERS system by an HHSC staff member.
The system is so broken that there are as many as 50,000 maintenance service requests filed by staff members every year.
Undoubtedly, TIERS, which has a dubious history, is a major reason so many Medicaid-eligible children could not have their eligibility redetermined correctly and quickly at the unwinding after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The legislature approved the creation of TIERS in 1997 and contracted with Accenture for over $800 million to build it as part of a privatization push for eligibility services under then-Governor Rick Perry’s administration. In 2006, after a troubled rollout and severe operational problems, Texas canceled its contract with Accenture. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) then assumed responsibility for the system’s development and maintenance.
It is good to see the agency finally requesting a replacement for a system that never worked properly from the beginning.
That money should be used to raise fees. The application process itself is wasteful. If a dentist is vetted by state board that should be sufficient. Credential the office, not the doctors that work it. I had to wait 6 GD months to credential a doctor that already has a TX license to treat patients. It’s a broken system. Ridiculous.
You’re 100% right, the credentialing process is disgustingly wasteful, especially when we need all the help we can get treating the massive underserved population at below cost. What happened with the hearing where we all voiced our complaints?
I smell a class action lawsuit.