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Division of Long‑Term Supports outlines staffing, IT gains and remaining unfunded positions
Summary
DHHS division director Melissa Hardy told Finance Division 3 on March 10 that the Division of Long‑Term Supports and Services has lowered vacancy rates and completed key IT moves but still has eight unfunded positions and ongoing maintenance funding needs.
The Department of Health and Human Services presented an overview of the Division of Long‑Term Supports and Services at the Finance Division 3 work session on March 10, saying the division has reduced vacancies and completed several IT transitions while some positions requested in the governor's budget remain unfunded.
Melissa Hardy, division director for long‑term supports and services, told the committee the division is organized into three bureaus — adult and aging services, developmental services, and family centered services — and “I have the honor of serving people, throughout their lifespan if needed.” She said the division manages a mix of contracted providers, eligibility determinations and quality monitoring across those bureaus.
Hardy and Nathan White, chief financial officer with DHHS, described recent personnel and technology changes. The division reported vacancy rates of about 4% for the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, 15% for the Bureau of Developmental Services (BDS), and 6% for Family Centered Services. White said the governor’s budget left eight positions unfunded across the division: three in Adult and Aging Services and five in Developmental Services.
Hardy emphasized IT work completed during the biennium, including moving Adult Protective Services and Bureau of Developmental Services functions into the state’s “New Heights” system to automate authorizations and improve transparency between providers and the department. She said those IT changes have made it easier for staff to pull data and for providers to see the status of service authorizations. “Adult protection going into New Heights … creates a lot of efficiencies for our staff,” Hardy said.
Committee members pressed on sustainability: Hardy noted that the initial IT build must be funded for ongoing maintenance and upgrades. CFO Nathan White described routine budgeting for New Heights maintenance as class 27 within the Office of the Commissioner and the Bureau of Information Services, and the committee requested future briefings to connect specific IT costs with benefits to departments and programs.
Ending: The division asked the oversight committee to prioritize maintenance funding so recent automation and dashboarding work can be sustained. Members scheduled further review of new bills and budget items for the March 17 work session.
