Last week on June 21, the CompTIA Human Services Information Technology Advisory Group (HSITAG) explored all aspects of health and human services (HHS) and technology in Texas during a half day of meetings. Our HSITAG meeting brought together top HHS leaders as well as top technology and procurement leaders from the state government. Jennifer Sims, Deputy Commissioner with the Texas Department of State Health Services, gave members a rundown of the state’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Texas, while not in as bad of shape as many other struggling states, had over 2,000 people die from drug overdose in 2016 and a large majority of these deaths were due to opioid abuse. Texas has made great strides in looking at data use to quantify the problem and the Department is working with other state and local agencies to share data and use it to help drive decision making. There is a large amount of federal funding available now to combat opioid abuse, so Texas is working to capitalize on this with education and outreach campaigns.
Lisa Kanne, Deputy Chief Operating Officer with the Texas department of family and protective services, updated members recent changes to their organizational structure, including making the department a stand along agency during this past legislative session. The department has also outsourced case management and is currently working through changing job roles associated with state staff.
Stephanie Muth, State Medicaid Director, also discussed some structural changes with CompTIA members, including the constantly shifting populations or services under the Medicaid managed care portfolio in the state. Along with this shift, the state is looking at a modular approach to update their Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) system to accommodate these new payment models and populations. The press has been critical of the state’s managed care programs so lots of work with the legislature is underway as well.
We also heard from state IT and procurement leadership including Todd Kimbriel, State CIO, and Hershel Becker, Chief Procurement Officer for IT as well as Jette Withers, Chief Procurement Officer for the state.
Listening and learning about the ongoing IT improvements that apply to HHS agencies gives members a great perspective on the sales cycles and business development opportunities within the state. Newly released procurement and contract management guides, as well as increased focus on agency collaboration with industry, points Texas agencies in the right direction of using technology to improve government services.
If you would like to attend future HSITAG meetings, please contact Pete Kaminskas about membership!
Jennifer Saha is the National Director, Public Sector Councils at CompTIA
