R.I. lawmakers told benefits backlog still in the thousands
The overdue application backlog for benefits -- such as health insurance, welfare and food assistance -- stood at 4,011, the
Around half of the overdue applications last month were for long-term elder care.
"We know we are not where we need to be," Health and Human Services Secretary
But as various members of Gov.
As an example, he said more than 80 percent of applications for
Even with that improvement, the state remains well short of the 96 percent on-time goal for critical emergency applications it agreed to as part of a court-approved settlement over an
After being launched against the recommendations of federal regulators, the computer system developed by contractor Deloitte has been beset by technical problems, resulting in long waits for services and faulty benefit determinations based on inaccurate data.
The state has blamed Deloitte for the problems and is again in negotiations with the company over how much it will pay for continuing work, which Beane said is expected to cost
When that completion will happen is still anyone's guess.
Pressed by at least three lawmakers on when UHIP will be "done," Beane said that would only be when a series of "performance measures" with the system are met. He didn't say what those performance goals are.
The state is currently refusing to pay Deloitte until UHIP is fully functional and Beane said he didn't want to set an end date or weaken the state's negotiating position by laying out a finish line.
The current agreement between the two sides runs through June, when some major software updates are due. Beane said negotiations are underway on payments for work after that time, which he said would likely last until at least
"If it is still broken, I am not letting [Deloitte] off the hook," Beane said.
UHIP was supposed to save the state money by more rapidly purging ineligible residents from benefit rolls using fewer state workers.
The Raimondo administration initially reduced the number of social services employees when the computer launched, but has since had to restore that staffing due to the technical problems.
In addition to the lawsuit over delayed food stamp applications, the
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On Twitter: @PatrickAnderso_
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