Texas overwhelmed by food stamp, Medicaid applications

[sonias]

AAS Postcards from the Lege blog 4/9/09
Texas overwhelmed by food stamp, Medicaid applications

Overwhelmed by an increase in applications for food stamps and Medicaid, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has postponed plans to expand use of a new computer enrollment system, officials said today.

“The national economic situation has certainly arrived in Texas, at least in our offices,” said Stephanie Goodman, a spokeswoman for the commission.
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Goodman said: “It’s tough to make any changes when you’re drinking from a fire hose.”

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But TIERS has been criticized, and State Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, vice chairman of the House Committee on Human Services, has filed a bill that would halt further expansion of TIERS until cases processed in the system are completed accurately and on time.

Sonia