Indiana’s Automated Rollout of Benefits Needs to be De-bugged

Sometimes the age of computers is a wonder to behold.  You can get work done and emailed 24/7.  It’s convenient to shop on line, apply for jobs on line, send cards and gifts by using online services, and so much more.  One drawback is that there is nobody “live” to talk to in many cases, so if there are questions or problems, you’re often stuck with them.

In addition, there are still other issues to be solved.  Identity theft and fraud have become much more prevalent and inputting mistakes by you or the company you are dealing with can cost a tremendous amount of time and/or money.

The state of Indiana has some unique problems when it comes to dealing with welfare programs – including Medicaid – on line.  One of the biggest issues is that automated eligibility and renewal services are not always accurate, but do not offer alternatives, such as live operators.  Indiana has 92 counties and has stated that they will have at least one staffed office in each county.

In the meantime, waiting for the “de-bugging” of he system is creating some serious issues for Indiana Medicaid recipients and recipients of food stamps and other services.  ACLU has filed a lawsuit to deal with some of these issues.  For example, one woman with hearing problems and other disabilities lost her Medicaid.  Why? She was told she could not meet in person with a state caseworker.  Another mother lost her food stamps and subsidized health care for her children when the tax return she provided was missing one attachment.  It’s hard to believe that she wasn’t simply asked to provide the paperwork.  With so much riding on it, it seems logical that she would have provided it, if asked. 

Gavin Rose, an ACLU Attorney has stated that there are thousands of these cases, and, of course, they affect the most vulnerable individuals and families.  Mitch Roob, of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, has said that it is not improper to cut off benefits if the correct paperwork is not turned in.  He has also, though, stated that the benefits of these and other people who lost benefits due to the new computerized system, need to have their benefits re-instated if they turn in the correct paperwork. 

Rose, of the ACLU says that complete automation creates unfair obstacles for individual with mental illness and other mental health issues, as well as other disabilities, including those with limited education.  In each of the cases involved in the lawsuit one of the biggest issues has been that all of the paperwork requested had previously been requested – and the agencies had originals and copies of this paperwork – and still, their benefits were terminated.

This is a situation which will take time to clear up.  ACLU, Indiana Family and Social Services and even congress, are all looking into the situation to try to fix the system and overcome the obstacles as soon as possible. If you are having issues such as these – no matter what state you are living in – contact www.medicaid.gov or your local chapter of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), or your local Family and Social Services Administration.  

Filed under: General-Medicare

Tags: Automated, benefits, General-Medicare, medicaid, Rollout