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Senator Bell presses EOHHS data plan; committee holds bill after testimony on Equifax 'Work Number' concerns
Summary
Senator Bell presented legislation addressing the state's planned use of commercial Equifax 'Work Number' data for Medicaid eligibility and a possible move to monthly eligibility; sponsor warned of data quality, breach risks and eligibility losses and the committee held the bill.
Senator Bell told the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on April 3 that a policy change in budget materials would shift Medicaid income verification from state data to a commercial data product from Equifax known as the Work Number. Bell said the Work Number contains employer‑reported salary and employment information, has an imperfect track record on data quality and ethics, and that errors could cause beneficiaries to lose coverage.
Bell also said the shift — which had been included in budget projections rather than standalone enabling legislation — could enable a move from quarterly income averaging to monthly eligibility determinations. He told the committee that change would mean beneficiaries who receive overtime or a short‑term income spike could lose Medicaid eligibility in a single month instead of being protected by multi‑month averaging. Bell said the administration has delayed full implementation and was working with advocates to address concerns, but he urged the General Assembly to require continued use of state data and fuller vetting.
Committee members asked whether EOHHS had confirmed plans to use the Work Number; Bell said some implementation steps had been delayed and credited EOHHS staff for listening to concerns, but noted the policy was embedded in budget projections. After discussion the committee voted to hold the bill for further review.
