Faulty software. Bad telephone computers. First no payments, then overpayments, partial payments and mixed up payments.
The Department of Health and Human Services has been struggling for more than four months with a new computer system that administers Medicaid payments to service providers. The new system, mandated by the federal government, so far has been a flop. Its inability to handle the job of matching claims and payments has caused considerable hardship to the people who provide services to some of Maine’s neediest residents. Providers – doctors, dentists, mental health professionals, foster parents – have closed their doors while others have struggled along without payment.
In March, Gov. Baldacci responded with strong words to the foul-ups, demanding the problems be sorted out within 30 days. A high-level task force was set up, and some of the administration’s biggest hitters were put on the task of straightening things out.
It’s May now, and problems persist.
Comparing government activities to private business is an overused rhetorical device used to attack everything from borrowing to hiring practices, but in this case it’s apt. A private company that failed to pay its bills in a timely and accurate way would not survive. Creditors and vendors would be nowhere nearly as patient as many of the state’s Medicaid providers have been.
Progress has been made. Checks are going out – many of them are wrong and don’t include enough information for legitimate accounting – but most providers are getting some money. A problem with the telephone system apparently has been resolved.
But the overall system remains plagued by problems. The first priority is to get the system fixed. Once that’s done, it’s time to hold someone accountable, be it the Maryland firm that designed the system or the people at DHHS responsible for making sure it worked before switching from the old one, which had functioned for 20 years.
Patience is running out. The professionals who work to help the state’s Medicaid recipients should not have to wait any longer.
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