Veterans Benefit Enhancement Project, a result of a partnership between DSHS and Washington Department of Veteran’s Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES ENHANCEMENT PROJECT CHARTER

1. Project Statement

The Veterans Benefit Enhancement Project is the result of a partnership between the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Washington Department of Veteran’s Affairs (WDVA). Together, the partnership identifies and facilitates claims services to veterans and family members who receive state social and health services.  The project goal is to maximize federal veteran’s benefits for which they may be eligible, thereby reducing reliance on similar services provided by DSHS.

2. Background

The Project formally began in 2003 and assists veterans and their families receiving state social and health services to apply for veterans compensation and pension benefits which qualify clients for medical programs through VA Medical Centers, CHAMPVA and TRICARE.  These medical programs provide eligible clients with health care coverage, prescription medications and durable medical equipment. To date, the Project has saved DSHS approximately $8 million dollars in combined state General Funds and federal funding and was the recipient of the 2004 Governor’s Customer Service Award.

The Veterans Benefit Enhancement Project uses Department of Defense and Veteran’s Affairs data from the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) to identify DSHS clients who are veterans and the potentially eligible survivors who may qualify for federal veterans benefits.  The DSHS Project refers clients who may be eligible for VA benefits to the WDVA. The WDVA team compares the referred DSHS clients against the VA Benefits Delivery Network “SHARE” to determine positive eligibility.  The WDVA assists veterans and family members to qualify for and receive monetary entitlements that subsequently provide the eligibility for medical care programs. 

These services result in Medicaid clients possibly becoming eligible for the following benefits:

• Monthly monetary payments to include the additional Aid and Attendance benefit
• Eligibility for military-related Medical coverage
• Prescription drugs covered by various military-related coverage
• Durable Medical Equipment 
• Family benefits

3. Strategic Goal Statement

The goal of this Project is to maximize federal services and benefits for eligible veterans and family members who are currently receiving state social and health services.

4. Objectives

The Project has several objectives designed to increase awareness of and access to federal veterans benefits coverage for eligible customers currently using state social and health services:

• Improve outreach to the general public regarding veteran’s benefits; educate veterans and dependents about the availability and eligibility requirements for veterans and military related benefits
• Improve  data sharing between agencies who have common objectives and who share similar client caseloads
• Improve DSHS Field Staff awareness of veterans benefits available to clients.  These benefits include service connected disability compensation, non-service connected disability pension which often times result in clients qualifying for the additional Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits
• Streamline the identification and communication of federal benefits for veterans who are currently receiving state social and health services
• Connect veterans who are receiving social and health services, to federal veteran-related benefits that may minimize the impact of estate recovery for veterans and family members who qualify for them.

5. Project Organizational Structure

DSHS’ Health Recovery Service Administration (HRSA) Payment Review Program (PRP) will devote adequate resources and staff to the Project and will report directly to the PRP Manager. Similarly, the WDVA will devote resources and staff and will report directly to the WDVA Veteran Services Division Administrator. DSHS and WDVA staff will work cooperatively to identify newly approved Medicaid clients potentially eligible for VA benefits.  Eligible clients will then be enrolled into the appropriate military-related medical programs. (as described in ‘Project Scope’).

An inter-agency Steering Committee will be chaired by the WDVA Deputy Director and the DSHS Deputy Secretary and will include the DSHS Manager of PRP, the WDVA Veteran Services Administrator, and the Chief Financial Officers of both DSHS and the WDVA. Membership on the Committee will also include managers from other DSHS administrations whose programs are affected by the Project. The Committee will perform the following tasks:

• Provide leadership and unbiased support with an enterprise view of the Project’s objectives
• Accept responsibility and ownership of Project strategies, activities and outcomes
• Identify and provide staffing and other resources necessary to enable full participation and epresentation of other administrations involved in the Project
• Establish, modify and manage the Project’s scope throughout the life of the Project
• Provide timely decisions through Committee consensus
• Meet quarterly to review the Project’s goals and performance measures

6. Project Scope

Initially, the Project’s scope will continue to include the identification of all eligible veterans and family members in Washington State who are receiving Medicaid Long Term Care, prescription medication and other medical services that are currently covered by DSHS. DSHS will continue to provide the names of potentially eligible veterans and family members who may be entitled to VA monetary awards and increases, as well as those eligible for enrollment in federal medical programs.    

Based upon its progress, the Project may also include participation from DSHS’ Economic Services Administration (ESA), Drug Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA), Mental Health, and Children’s Administration (CA) to partner in identifying opportunities to shift benefits under these programs to federal programs for eligible veterans.

7. Performance Measures
 
The Steering Committee will apply Government Management Accountability Program (GMAP)-centered performance measures to the Project and oversee the Project’s fulfillment of those measures.  

8. Acceptance

We, the undersigned representing management from DSHS and WDVA, have reviewed the Charter and approve of its contents.

Robin Arnold-Williams, Secretary
Department of Social and Health Services
State of Washington

John Lee, Director
Washington Department of Veterans Affairs
State of Washington