The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) today announced a contract award to Optum for an Integrated Eligibility System to consolidate and replace three current systems in the Department. The new system will provide a single framework across DHHR that will support the eligibility, enrollment, and administration of the Department’s human services programs.
This integrated system will improve how the state determines eligibility and delivery of social service programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child welfare, child care, and child support. The new system will allow DHHR to realize a funding match of 90% federal to 10 % state for implementation.
“Upgrading our eligibility system is projected to save the state of West Virginia approximately $55 million, with the support of federal government-enhanced funding at 90 percent,” said DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch. “The benefit of having multiple, integrated bureaus within DHHR that offer human services programs is the cost savings that will be realized with this new system. It will improve the efficiency of the department, save the state money and will offer a more sophisticated approach to fraud detection in our programs. And perhaps most important, this system will help us improve the quality of services delivered to the citizens of West Virginia.”
The contract to Optum was awarded following a bidding process conducted under the guidelines of the Purchasing Division of the West Virginia Department of Administration.