The backlog of food-stamp applications in Forsyth and Guilford counties dropped during the first two weeks of January, according to new numbers released by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
Forsyth County ranks fourth for the number of total pending applications, with 2,233 on Jan. 14 — a 17.3 percent reduction from 2,700 reported on Dec. 31. The number of untimely delays, generally exceeding 30 days, has dropped from 2,017 to 1,494, while the number of applications pending for more than 120 days slightly increased from 177 to 280.
Only three counties — Wake, Mecklenburg and Cumberland — have a higher backlog of food-stamp applications.
In comparison, the total number of pending applications in Guilford County was 1,394 as of Jan. 14 — down from 1,593 on Dec. 31, while the number of untimely delays increased from 1,039 to 1,049. The number of applications pending for more than 120 days also increased, from 287 to 520.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports that the Forsyth County Department of Social Services disputes the numbers.
Background here.
Reduction in the statewide backlog is more dramatic than in Forsyth and Guilford counties, with the number of pending applications dropping from 53,025 on Dec. 31 to 11,339, although the agency has said that the earlier figure included a significant number of duplicates.
Showing posts with label NC Department of Health and Human Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NC Department of Health and Human Services. Show all posts
NC Black Legislative Caucus calls for DHHS chief's resignation
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| Rep. Evelyn Terry, Sen. Earline Parmon and Rep. Ed Hanes |
"This is necessary because of the numerous mishaps that have occurred in this department, the last issue being the HIPAA breach with the mis-mailings of Medicaid cards," said Sen. Earline Parmon, during a press conference at the Enterprise Center with fellow Democratic Reps. Evelyn Terry and Ed Hanes. "We have increasing concerns about serious management issues at DHHS based on documents we have received and reviewed as a lack of response and transparency on the part of DHHS officials."
The caucus obtained a recent letter addressed to the Wos from the US Department of Agriculture putting the secretary on notice that the state agency "may soon be subject to suspension or disallowance of administrative funds" related to the provision of food assistance to low-income individuals.
"The data provided by DHHS indicates that more than 20,000 households continue to experience significant delays with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications and recertifications," USDA Regional Administrator Donald E. Arnette wrote in the Dec. 11, 2013 letter. "Of these households, over 6,000 have been waiting for more than three months to receive benefits. These delays are completely unacceptable and a serious failure on the part of North Carolina. Access to nutrition assistance program benefits for every eligible person who meets the qualifications, needs the help, and seeks assistance is a priority for [US Food and Nutrition Service]. We have grave concern for the low-income people of North Carolina who are waiting for assistance. DHHS must work aggressively to correct the issues that are impacting the ability of North Carolina citizens to purchase food."
Developing...
Document:
Letter from USDA to NC DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos threatening suspension of federal funding
State audit slams NC DHHS's rollout of Medicaid billing system
Key findings from a new audit by the NC Auditor's Office on the NC Department of Health and Human Services' disastrous Medicaid billing system, NCTracks:
• "Since going live, the NCTracks system has encountered 3,200 defects.
• "The department has an inadequate framework for the timely resolution of NCTracks defects.
• "The state lacks a comprehensive action plan to address all NCTracks issues.
• "Federal and state government mandated changes have not been implemented within their target or mandatory implementation dates.
• "The state government 'revolving door creates a perception of bias or conflict of interest."
Among the audit's recommendations: "The General Assembly should consider a narrow change to state law to limit the ability of senior level state government employees to go directly to work for a vendor they directly managed whiled employed by the state."
Backstory.
Audit highlights:
• "Since going live, the NCTracks system has encountered 3,200 defects.
• "The department has an inadequate framework for the timely resolution of NCTracks defects.
• "The state lacks a comprehensive action plan to address all NCTracks issues.
• "Federal and state government mandated changes have not been implemented within their target or mandatory implementation dates.
• "The state government 'revolving door creates a perception of bias or conflict of interest."
Among the audit's recommendations: "The General Assembly should consider a narrow change to state law to limit the ability of senior level state government employees to go directly to work for a vendor they directly managed whiled employed by the state."
Backstory.
Audit highlights:
A former DHHS employee who served for more than four years as the NCTracks senior program manager and associate program director now works for the NCTracks vendor, [Computer Sciences Corp.], as the NCTracks executive account manager.
The established contract between the department and CSC requires the vendor to obtain approval from the state for all individuals considered "key personnel." CSC asked the department for approval of this appointment in August 2013. On August 21, 2013, the department approved CSC's request. Auditors found that DHHS and CSC followed established contract procedures.
Without a "cooling off" period, the North Carolina State Ethics Commission has stated that, "even if there is no legal or 'ethical' impediment to doing so, leaving public service to work for a private entity that will do business with the employee's former state employer, may create a perception of bias or conflict of interest. This potential for apparent bias attaches not only to the former employee's subsequent dealings with his former state employer but also to their actions and decisions immediately prior to leaving state employment."Also,
A potential NCTracks certification delay by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) raises concerns that the state will not begin to save approximately $9.6 million a year at the earliest possible point, July 2014. The state currently pays 50% of NCTracks operational costs. Once the system is certified the federal government cost share will increase to 75% and the state will have to cover only 25% of the costs, resulting in $9.6 million in annual savings. The department has indicated that once the system is certified the state will also receive a federal retroactive reimbursement effective July 1, 2013.
'I have... no more answers for my children when they are hungry'
NC FAST might mean going without food, but that's probably not what the coiners of the acronym intended.
North Carolina Families Accessing Services Through Technology, which is being implemented across all 100 counties of North Carolina, is designed to integrate various social services, including food stamps, Medicaid and WorkFirst, creating a kind of "one-stop shop" for clients seeking assistance. The Forsyth County Department of Social Services calls it a "no wrong door" approach.
Beginning in early July complaints began to crop up in Forsyth County about food stamp benefits being held up for current clients applying for reactivation. A number of clients said their benefits had been delayed for months on end, and food pantries and agencies that provide free meals reported an increase in demand that was partially attributable to disruption in food stamp benefits. Those complaints were a reprise of similar concerns expressed in neighboring Guilford County where the program was piloted.
In mid-July Forsyth County Social Services Director Joe Raymond told YES! Weekly that it was "fair to say that all of our staff are trying to learn how to use the new system and there are delays." He added, "I'm unaware any any macro-statistical thing going on here. I'm unaware that any technology glitch is throwing people out of the system."
Since then, people have continued to report ongoing disruption in food-stamp benefits as food pantries plea for donations to address summertime spikes in demand. He also said that a report about staff temporarily closing the office because of an "uproar" was "categorically inaccurate."
Nicole Main, a YES! Weekly reader, wrote in an e-mail yesterday:
"That's really when the red flag went up, when it was apparent something had broken down," she said.
Some of the problems might be occurring because of requirements that clients submit complete information to qualify benefits under the new system. Terry said the local department of social service understaffed "to be able to address it adequately and they must check and do due diligence. A person has to bring in the forms that says they've been looking for work and their status hasn't changed, so that the system goes to the next level and doesn't throw up a red flag. At the end of the day that still doesn't feed a hungry child."
Terry said she's struggling to understand why the breakdown has occurred during the conversion to the new system, which was placed under contract in 2008 during the administration of Democratic Gov. Mike Easley.
"People do not need to have to stand in long lines and wait to receive the benefits to which they are eligible to receive," Terry said. "How do you connect that? You've got to have a nexus for the system at the state to connect with the system at the local level. This apparently is not or has not happened. Why? I have absolutely no idea. You've got to have writers of software and users of technology communicating effectively with workers so that the end game turns out to provide the needed services. And I just believe there's a breakdown somewhere; I don't know where it is. I wouldn't dare speculate. We have been getting updated continuously from Joe Raymond regarding some of the issues."
Disruption in food stamp benefits are not limited to Forsyth County, and have also been reported in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Burlington, Granville County, and Lincoln County.
Young said Raymond and other county social services directors "are in Raleigh meeting with NC FAST trying to figure out what the issues are and what can be done to rectify them. Last time I spoke with him they talked about a plan to have the issues rectified by next week."
Young added, "We've got new cases coming in. We've got a backlog of issues with all kinds of technical stuff. People are aware of it, and they are working diligently to fix the problem."
NC Sen. Earline Parmon (D-Forsyth) said she has sought answers from the NC Department of Health and Human Services about why the disruptions to services continue.
"They're having some problems with the systems connecting," she said. "I've heard from a lot of people whose families were suffering because families weren't able to get [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits."
Parmon suggested that the state-mandated program revert to the old process until the kinks can be worked out through a limited pilot of NC FAST.
"It appears that there is not an urgency to put something in place until they've got it working properly," she said.
I have been attempting to reach Ricky Diaz, public affairs director for the NC Department of Health and Human Services, since yesterday morning. I hope to hear from him soon.
Main said she fears that the next stop for many people whose food benefits have been delayed will be a homeless shelter.
"The DSS is not doing the best they can to make this program work, they are doing the very opposite by hiding and not telling people the truth. They have 72 hours to return a phone call and since July 24, [my neighbor] has not received one call back. The operator even called her social worker on a direct inside line and gave her my neighbor's information directly, and still nothing fixed."
North Carolina Families Accessing Services Through Technology, which is being implemented across all 100 counties of North Carolina, is designed to integrate various social services, including food stamps, Medicaid and WorkFirst, creating a kind of "one-stop shop" for clients seeking assistance. The Forsyth County Department of Social Services calls it a "no wrong door" approach.
Beginning in early July complaints began to crop up in Forsyth County about food stamp benefits being held up for current clients applying for reactivation. A number of clients said their benefits had been delayed for months on end, and food pantries and agencies that provide free meals reported an increase in demand that was partially attributable to disruption in food stamp benefits. Those complaints were a reprise of similar concerns expressed in neighboring Guilford County where the program was piloted.
In mid-July Forsyth County Social Services Director Joe Raymond told YES! Weekly that it was "fair to say that all of our staff are trying to learn how to use the new system and there are delays." He added, "I'm unaware any any macro-statistical thing going on here. I'm unaware that any technology glitch is throwing people out of the system."
Since then, people have continued to report ongoing disruption in food-stamp benefits as food pantries plea for donations to address summertime spikes in demand. He also said that a report about staff temporarily closing the office because of an "uproar" was "categorically inaccurate."
Nicole Main, a YES! Weekly reader, wrote in an e-mail yesterday:
My neighbor lost her job in June, she signed up on benefits here in Forsyth County. They told her she was eligible for emergency benefits because of small children in the home. She was supposed to receive those around the 24th of June. Since then, she hasn't gotten any benefits, even the emergency ones. She calls the DSS on a daily basis, her social worker has never returned a call, even though they state their policy is to give you a call within 72 hours. She has left messages for supervisors, and the 72-hour policy doesn't seem to apply to them either. She has went to the food banks, and they limit your visits. With four young kids and no income, and soon, nowhere to turn for food, they are going to be facing some hungry nights.Main said she drove her neighbor to the Forsyth County Department of Social Services in Winston-Salem, and they encountered a long line of people questioning why their benefits cards had zeroed out.
One lady at the counter said she wanted to talk to someone immediately because she had been waiting months for her benefits. "I have went to every church and food bank possible. I have sold or pawned everything I have ever owned, even my children's things, just to put a bite on the table for them. I have nothing left, nowhere to go, and no more answers for my children when they are hungry. I have been waiting since May. How much longer should I have to wait? I want some answers because I have no more answers to help my kids."I have a call in to Raymond, and hope to hear back from him this week. Nancy Young, a member of the Forsyth County Board of Social Services said the board is aware of the problem, which she said arose when the local agency started downloading the Medicaid pilot. NC Rep. Evelyn Terry, who is also a member of the social services board, said the problems became apparent in late July.
"That's really when the red flag went up, when it was apparent something had broken down," she said.
Some of the problems might be occurring because of requirements that clients submit complete information to qualify benefits under the new system. Terry said the local department of social service understaffed "to be able to address it adequately and they must check and do due diligence. A person has to bring in the forms that says they've been looking for work and their status hasn't changed, so that the system goes to the next level and doesn't throw up a red flag. At the end of the day that still doesn't feed a hungry child."
Terry said she's struggling to understand why the breakdown has occurred during the conversion to the new system, which was placed under contract in 2008 during the administration of Democratic Gov. Mike Easley.
"People do not need to have to stand in long lines and wait to receive the benefits to which they are eligible to receive," Terry said. "How do you connect that? You've got to have a nexus for the system at the state to connect with the system at the local level. This apparently is not or has not happened. Why? I have absolutely no idea. You've got to have writers of software and users of technology communicating effectively with workers so that the end game turns out to provide the needed services. And I just believe there's a breakdown somewhere; I don't know where it is. I wouldn't dare speculate. We have been getting updated continuously from Joe Raymond regarding some of the issues."
Disruption in food stamp benefits are not limited to Forsyth County, and have also been reported in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Burlington, Granville County, and Lincoln County.
Young said Raymond and other county social services directors "are in Raleigh meeting with NC FAST trying to figure out what the issues are and what can be done to rectify them. Last time I spoke with him they talked about a plan to have the issues rectified by next week."
Young added, "We've got new cases coming in. We've got a backlog of issues with all kinds of technical stuff. People are aware of it, and they are working diligently to fix the problem."
NC Sen. Earline Parmon (D-Forsyth) said she has sought answers from the NC Department of Health and Human Services about why the disruptions to services continue.
"They're having some problems with the systems connecting," she said. "I've heard from a lot of people whose families were suffering because families weren't able to get [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits."
Parmon suggested that the state-mandated program revert to the old process until the kinks can be worked out through a limited pilot of NC FAST.
"It appears that there is not an urgency to put something in place until they've got it working properly," she said.
I have been attempting to reach Ricky Diaz, public affairs director for the NC Department of Health and Human Services, since yesterday morning. I hope to hear from him soon.
Main said she fears that the next stop for many people whose food benefits have been delayed will be a homeless shelter.
"The DSS is not doing the best they can to make this program work, they are doing the very opposite by hiding and not telling people the truth. They have 72 hours to return a phone call and since July 24, [my neighbor] has not received one call back. The operator even called her social worker on a direct inside line and gave her my neighbor's information directly, and still nothing fixed."
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