Bill to improve access to public benefit programs advanced

The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) would be required to increase staff at local offices to provide more assistance with the state’s system for accessing public benefit programs under a bill given first-round approval March 30.

Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas, sponsor of LB825, said the department’s reform effort to modernize and streamline access to public benefits – known as ACCESSNebraska – has resulted in delays, anxiety and confusion.

Dubas said the move away from local offices staffed by DHHS caseworkers to online applications and call centers has been particularly hard on the state’s elderly and those who lack an advocate to help them navigate the new system.

“There are simply some things that can’t be replaced by a computer,” she said.

As introduced, the bill would have required DHHS to add 25 local offices throughout the state to provide in-person services to clients. Offices would have been required to be open a minimum of 40 hours per week and be equipped with a reasonable number of computers, telephones and scanning equipment.

A Health and Human Services Committee amendment, adopted 32-0, removed the provision requiring new local offices and instead would require DHHS to adequately staff existing local offices and provides guidelines to determine the appropriate number of staff needed to provide in-person assistance to clients at each existing office.

The amendment also would require:
• call centers to take appointments for in-person interviews upon request;
• a dedicated caseworker to be assigned upon request to a client with chronic physical or mental disorders, elderly who require continuing care and complex cases;
• local office caseworkers to interview clients, assist with applications, determine program eligibility and answer questions; and
• DHHS to contract with community-based organizations to act as satellite offices for department caseworkers.

Sen. Tanya Cook of Omaha offered an amendment that contained some provisions of LB1041, which she introduced.

The amendment, adopted 28-0, would require DHHS to:
• coordinate eligibility requirements;
• expand information sharing across programs;
• simplify documentation requirements by using the same or similar documents to verify information across programs; and
• re-establish program eligibility more easily by reopening cases that have been closed in the previous 30 days rather than requiring reapplication.

Cook said the amendment would reduce the administrative burden on DHHS workers and allow them to concentrate on serving ACCESSNebraska clients.

Omaha Sen. Gwen Howard supported both amendments, saying it was irresponsible of DHHS to implement ACCESSNebraska without establishing a pilot program or being responsive to community input.

“This bill will help the department do what they should be doing and put the ‘human’ back in our Health and Human Services Department,” she said.

Senators advanced the bill to select file on a 25-0 vote.