WFFaithful
Well-known member
http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2013/09/20/nc-families-go-hungry-as-food-assistance-delayed/
"Earlier this year, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched NC FAST, a $300 million computer system that was supposed to streamline the process of applying and renewing government assistance. The name is an acronym for North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology.
Food bank volunteers quip that the new system should instead be called “NC FASTing.”
Under federal rules, food stamp applications are supposed to be processed within 30 days. In Wake County, the state’s largest, social services officials said the average wait for benefits is now 90 days.
...
The state bought its new case management software from an Irish company now owned by IBM and then hired technology contractor Accenture to modify the system. NCFAST is now being expanded to process applications for not only food stamps, but Medicaid, welfare and aid for people with disabilities living in adult care homes.
The stakes are high. The state faces a federal deadline of Oct. 1 to have the NC FAST system implemented to determine eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Despite the widespread problems processing food stamp applications, state officials are charging ahead with plans to rely on NC FAST to begin handling all state Medicaid applications at the start of October. The state is offering additional training for staff at county agencies and is hiring more than 160 temporary employees to try to work through the backlog in processing applications."
"Earlier this year, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched NC FAST, a $300 million computer system that was supposed to streamline the process of applying and renewing government assistance. The name is an acronym for North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology.
Food bank volunteers quip that the new system should instead be called “NC FASTing.”
Under federal rules, food stamp applications are supposed to be processed within 30 days. In Wake County, the state’s largest, social services officials said the average wait for benefits is now 90 days.
...
The state bought its new case management software from an Irish company now owned by IBM and then hired technology contractor Accenture to modify the system. NCFAST is now being expanded to process applications for not only food stamps, but Medicaid, welfare and aid for people with disabilities living in adult care homes.
The stakes are high. The state faces a federal deadline of Oct. 1 to have the NC FAST system implemented to determine eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Despite the widespread problems processing food stamp applications, state officials are charging ahead with plans to rely on NC FAST to begin handling all state Medicaid applications at the start of October. The state is offering additional training for staff at county agencies and is hiring more than 160 temporary employees to try to work through the backlog in processing applications."