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County approves AI and data tools for HHS eligibility work, subject to final legal and risk review
Summary
The board approved purchases of the TIBCO EVA AI platform and a Data Depot reporting repository to reduce manual eligibility work in Health & Human Services, with funding from the county’s federal healthcare‑unwinding allotment and subject to final review by administration and county attorney.
Sherburne County's Health & Human Services division received board approval to implement two technology initiatives intended to reduce the administrative burden on eligibility staff handling public assistance programs.
Gina Anderson, manager of the economic supports division, described the county’s reliance on two aging eligibility systems — Maxis (a legacy system first released in the 1980s) and METS (the Minnesota Eligibility Technology System) — and the expected workload increase from federal Medicaid redeterminations and other upcoming federal requirements. Anderson requested approval to purchase EVA, an AI call and intake tool from TIBCO, and Data Depot, a shared data repository for reporting and analytics. She told the board that EVA would cost $30,000 in 2025 and approximately $87,700 in 2026 for the county; Data Depot was budgeted at approximately $27,000 in 2026. Funding for the initial two years was proposed from the county’s allocated health care unwinding allotment.
Several commissioners expressed strong concern about the state's outdated eligibility systems. Commissioner Holtz characterized the systems as antiquated and urged public demonstrations for the press to show the limitations county staff face.
Administration recommended approval subject to final review by the county attorney and the county’s business‑risk committee and firewall/IT review. Commissioners followed that recommendation and approved the purchases on the condition that final contractual review and data‑security checks are completed. Staff will proceed with the statement of work and implementation planning following legal and IT clearance.
