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DSHS says Integrated Eligibility & Enrollment project tracking green but faces timeline and federal rule risks
Summary
Department of Social and Health Services reported to the Senate Ways & Means Committee that the integrated eligibility and enrollment (INE) program is largely on budget and scope but is delayed on one project dependent on federal data‑sharing and SSA clearance; Governor Inslee's proposed budget includes $51 million.
The Department of Social and Health Services told the Senate Ways & Means Committee that its Integrated Eligibility and Enrollment (INE) modernization program is “green” on scope and budget overall but faces schedule risk on at least one deliverable tied to federal agency data‑sharing and rule changes.
Sawan Gidkuta, the department’s chief technology and innovation officer, briefed members on INE’s scope, timeline and spending. He said INE began in 2021 to modernize benefit delivery across roughly 72 programs and that the project is split into three phases: stabilization of legacy systems, construction of a modernization foundation, and modernization of program IT components.
Why it matters: INE underpins eligibility and enrollment for many health and human services benefits. Delays or changes could affect how residents apply for and track benefits and could change projected state and federal costs.
Highlights from the presentation: - Program status: The program dashboard showed green for scope and budget; one subproject (MiWay Benefits launch) has been delayed because of data security and data‑sharing concerns raised by the Social Security Administration, a presenter said. - Underspend: The office reported an underspend of about $16,000,000 in the current fiscal year, attributed to slowed acceleration work pending budget clarity. - Governor's proposal: The presenter said Governor Inslee’s proposed budget includes $51,000,000 for the program, largely to implement CMS rule changes and to move the program into maintenance mode for the platform. - Timeline: The overall roadmap extends to 2029; several component dates (master person index, portal front end) were given, with some near‑term deliverables expected in 2024–2025.
Committee members asked about cross‑agency data sharing and the project’s adaptability to federal MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) rule changes. Gidkuta said the INE architecture is designed to implement CMS‑related rule changes and that the team is implementing overlapping capabilities to comply with MAGI simplification rules.
No formal committee action followed the briefing. Staff said the program will continue coordination with federal partners and would adjust the schedule depending on data‑sharing resolutions.
