Search Results for: accenture

Senate passes CHIP bill

Well, HB109 passed yesterday and that’s a good start, even if there’s room for improvement. The Texas Senate on Tuesday agreed to loosen some enrollment restrictions for children in the state’s low-cost insurance program for working poor families, allowing their … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Senate passes CHIP bill

Dewhurst finally sees the light on CHIP

I’ve been told that the best way to deal with someone who finally comes around to your way of thinking after resisting for a long time is to pretend he’s always agreed with you. With that in mind, let me … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

TSEU on TIERS and HHSC

The following is an email from the Texas State Employees’ Union (TSEU) regarding the Office of the Inspector General’s report on TIERS. It was sent to me by an HHSC worker. It’s long, so I’ve put it beneath the fold. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on TSEU on TIERS and HHSC

HHSC response to OIG report

I received a copy in the mail of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s official response to the Office of the Inspector General’s report about the abject failure of the TIERS software system. It’s uploaded here (PDF) for those … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on HHSC response to OIG report

TIERS for Albert Hawkins

As you know, the state of Texas recently cancelled its contract with Accenture to run call centers to determine eligibility for benefits like Medicaid. But the call-center deal was only part of what Accenture was doing for the Health and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Davis supports easing CHIP requirements

Well, well, well…look who favors making CHIP more accessible now. “I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Rep. John Davis of Houston, who on Tuesday filed legislation to lengthen the CHIP enrollment period from six months to one … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Davis supports easing CHIP requirements

The Lubbock State School

Here’s a disturbing story from last week that had slipped past me. Shoddy health care, substantial neglect and harmful treatment techniques have jeopardized the lives of Lubbock State School residents, federal investigators said in a report that criticized nearly every … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on The Lubbock State School

Another TIERS software screwup

Another day, another screwup in the privatization of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Glitches in the state’s new computer system have left investigators unable to check for fraud and overpayments in food-stamp and other benefit programs in the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

CPPP Report on Outsourcing Enrollment for HHS

The folks at the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) have just released a paper on Updating and Outsourcing Enrollment Public Benefits: The Texas Experience. It’s a 60-page PDF file, just the thing for a little light reading before bedtime. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on CPPP Report on Outsourcing Enrollment for HHS

Endorsement watch: The final four

At long last, the Chron has finished its endorsements, at least of State Legislature races. I’ve kind of lost track, but offhand I can’t think of any other races that they haven’t touched on yet. The final four contained a … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Where have all the CHIP enrollees gone?

I’ve spent a lot of time bashing the contract Accenture received to privatize services that were formerly provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC). And they richly deserve it, as their performance has sucked, with none of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

One helpful grandma

Here’s my nominee for Quote Of The Year, Unexpected Source division. Despite her protestations now, Bell said, Strayhorn once advocated privatizing the children’s Medicaid-eligibility system and changing rules for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, changes at least partly blamed for … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on One helpful grandma

More on the faxes to nowhere

The Chron editorializes about the faxes to nowhere, and in doing so they say what should be done next. Stop further CHIP disenrollments until Accenture meets basic performance levels. Request that the 2007 Legislature reinstate 12-month eligibility for CHIP/Medicaid enrollment. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

We’re on a fax to nowhere

It’s time for another stupid and inexcusable screwup by everyone’s favorite privatization project. Three months ago, dozens of documents from Texas containing highly confidential financial and health information began arriving over a fax machine at a Seattle warehouse. Shaun Peck, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 6 Comments

The state takes over again at HHSC

And the great boondoggle outsourcing of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) to Accenture takes failure to another level. Effective immediately, state workers again will be responsible for processing applications for assistance programs such as food stamps and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on The state takes over again at HHSC

HHSC now giving retention bonuses

You couldn’t come up with a better illustration of the abject failure that privatization of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) has been than this story. State welfare workers who were destined for pink slips to make way … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 4 Comments

Fixing CHIP

Let me join Greg in saying that this Chron editorial hits the nail on the head. WITH almost one-fourth of Texans lacking health insurance, it’s hard to see how things could get much worse. But they are, at alarming speed: … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Fixing CHIP

More HHSC privatization bashing

It’s time once again to play Let’s Bash HHSC Privatization! Anyone can play, but it’s more fun if you have a say in how the contractor gets paid. Angry House budget writers demanded Monday to know if the state will … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

HHSC delays call center rollout

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) has finally acknowledged the inevitable. Citing long wait times, inadequately trained staff and other problems, state officials announced Wednesday an indefinite delay in expanding privately run call centers statewide to screen applicants … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Full speed ahead on THHSC privatization

As Greg says, you know the state’s plan to privatize the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is way out there when the federal government is publicly questioning its ability to deliver services to those who need them. Until this … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Still in search of privatization savings

Following up on the earlier news about the very critical state audit of claimed savings by privatizing HR and payroll functions of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC), we have this Chron story which adds some more details. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Wohlgemuth’s legacy

We’ve just barely started down the road of privatizing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC), and already the savings we were promised for doing so are turning into an illusion. The $45 million in savings Texas’ Health and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Father John moves on

He knew it was coming, and was fortunately able to make other arrangements: Father John has left the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (which is currently cutting 2900 jobs) to go work for the Office of the Attorney General. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Let me be your sweetheart dealmaker

And another entry in the Gregg Phillips files. A deputy human services commissioner awarded a $1.2 million consulting contract to a company whose lobbyist employed the commissioner’s former business partner as a consultant. Gregg Phillips oversaw the Texas Health and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Yet another DeLay fundraiser raises yet more eyebrows

Does this guy do anything that doesn’t smell funny? AUSTIN — On the eve of the federal trial that could enhance Republican congressional power, U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay plans to scoop up re-election cash at an Austin lobby … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment