FSSA feud flares up

INDIANAPOLIS-At the same time that a bill to reform the agency is before the Indiana House of Representatives, the Family Social Services Administration launched its new hybrid plan, which seeks to combine old systems with new technology, to 10 counties on Tuesday.

The counties affected are in the southwest corner of Indiana in the area around Evansville.  The other parts of the state will operate under the current system.

The sponsor of the reform bill --- House Bill 1003 – is Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville.

"This is an exciting day for our clients and for our staff as we begin a new system of approving and delivering services for more than 1.2 million Hoosiers we serve," FSSA head Ann Murphy said in a press  release. "We listened to our providers, advocates, employees and clients and have combined what worked best in the old system and the modernized system for the Hybrid." 

“We’re trying to meld old state systems and bring technology with it,” Marcus Barlow, a spokesman for the FSSA, said. “People can apply online and fax us documents instead of face-to-face contact.”

The Vanderburgh region established an advisory group which will give feedback and monitor the hybrid’s progress.  The hybrid also promotes a “team concept.”

“It allows multiple people to help you,” Barlow said. 

Team members will have ability to assist and access client cases in their county.  The team concept will also allow newer workers to learn from the team’s example.

Some state lawmakers are pushing legislation which would provide oversight—hybrid or not.

“The bill that I am promoting simply says that no matter what’s out there—whether it’s  hybrid or whatever the plan is—that it meets certain standards and that there is oversight,” said Riecken.

The Evansville Democrat said she is hopeful that an oversight committee can be created, specifically for the FSSA.

“I’m hopeful that it’s going to be more locally controlled and managed,” Riecken said. 

Some lawmakers, such as Rep. Suzanne Crouch, R-Evansville, oppose Riecken’s bill because of government intrusion.

“I believe her bill is well-intended, but I think it is unnecessary, and I think you’ll see it’s more bureaucracy,” Crouch said.  “We already have a Medicaid oversight committee that is established in statute that provides oversight.  We have to be careful, in terms of separation of powers, that the legislative body doesn’t try to dictate to the executive branch and how they should do their contracts.”

“This has been in the works for a long time,” Barlow said of Riecken’s bill.  “She is ideologically opposed.  Her bill is politics.  It’s a political bill.  It’s a power to end all state contracts.  It’s a political giveaway.  Her bill would cost $60 million.”

Riecken disagreed.

“That criticism was levied at the bill when contracts were going to be cancelled.  The intent of this bill is to keep things going as long as services are provided in an efficient manner.  The $60 million he could be talking about: When you wind down, you don’t renew your contracts.  That isn’t an honest appraising.  No one likes to be monitored.  We don’t have that privilege anymore.  We’re talking about people’s lives,” Riecken said.