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Washington Connection Benefit Portal Partnership

Mission:

Improve access to a variety of services and benefits to help families and individuals meet basic needs and achieve self-sufficiency

January 12, 2017

Anh.Ong@dshs.wa.gov, (425) 412-2799

www.washingtonconnection.org

Washington Connection Background

• Goal: Increase access to a broad range of services and benefits for low income families and individuals so they can meet basic needs

• Solution: Develop a web-based universal portal for low-income families and individuals to look for information, screen for eligibility, and apply online for a variety of services and benefits offered by government agencies (federal, state, and local)

• Partnership: Community-based organizations, non-profits, philanthropic organizations, government agencies, school districts, colleges, and tribal organizations

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• Find out what services and benefits are available to low income families and individuals

• It’s Free and Secure

• It’s fast and user friendly

• One Stop Access

• Greater user convenience from the comforts their own home, work or partner. (24/7)

• Saves the applicant visits to the Community Services Offices

• Reduces applicant confusion

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Home Page (Website is available in English and Spanish)

Washington Connection Website

What DSHS Programs are available on the Washington Connection?

• Cash

• Basic Food

• Medical (Classic Medicaid)

• Health Care Coverage – Everyone applying is 65 or older, blind or disabled

• Medicare Savings Program

• Healthcare/Workers with Disabilities (HWD)

• Long Term Care Medical Assistance

• In-Home Long Term Care Services

• Assisted Living Facility/Adult Family Home

• Nursing Home

• Hospice

• Child/Family Institutional Care (Hospital/CLIP)

• Developmental Disabilities Services

• Child Care Assistance

• Other Services/Resources (Free/reduced meals, Start Next Quarter, etc.)

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Programs Accessible through Key Features

See If I Qualify

Apply Now

One-stop online application for multiple benefits and services (followed by another screening tool)

Prescreening tool to see what benefits and services the customer may need and be eligible for, with resource links provided (prior to and post online application)

Basic Food: Federal assistance, State assistance, Basic Food Employment and Training

Cash: Emergency, Refugee Assistance, etc.

Health Care for person age 65 or older, blind, or with disabilities

Medicare Savings Programs

Child Care Subsidy Programs

In-Home Long Term Care Services / Support for Caregivers

Assisted Living Facility / Adult Family Home

Nursing Home

Hospice

Healthcare / Workers with Disabilities (HWD)

Renewal, Change, Mid-Cert Review

Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children

Washington Apple Health (MAGI Medicaid)

Child Support Services

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Early Childhood Education and Assistance; Head Start Program

Start Next Quarter educational planning workshops

Vocational Rehabilitation

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Veterans Benefits

Tribal Services

Telephone equipment for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Housing Assistance

Free and Reduced Price School Meals

Crime Victims Compensation Program

Seattle Step Ahead Preschool Program

Seattle City Child Care Program

Seattle Weatherization Assistance

Seattle Utility Discount Program

Seattle Public Utilities Emergency Assistance Program

User Secure Account Client Benefit Account Online Tutorials Customer Survey

Partner Online Registration Partner Account Public Access Directory Frequently Used Forms

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Available Features

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“See If I Qualify” Prescreening Tool

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“Apply Now” Apply Online (1)

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“Apply Now” Apply Online (2)

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“Apply Now” Apply Online (3)

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“Find Services” Page

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“Find Services – Employment Services and Training” Page

Why accessing services online

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Customer:

• 24/7 access to apply for or renew DSHS benefits

• Client Benefit Account allows the Head of Household to monitor their DSHS benefits and information on-line (eligibility review due date, contact information, etc.)

• Auto-filled Mid-Certification Review (for food and cash assistance) through Client Benefit Account

• Link to ProviderOne

• Link to access EBT card balance and replacement requests

CLIENT BENEFIT ACCOUNT

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CLIENT BENEFIT ACCOUNT

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CLIENT BENEFIT ACCOUNT

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Community Partnerships (1)

Two Level of Partnerships:

1. Host Organization: Display / Distribute Marketing Materials. Provides access to computer and information to

customers.

2. Assisting Agency: Display / Distribute Marketing Materials. Have staff with Assistor level duties, available to help

customers apply for and renew benefits online on behalf of the customer.

Two Levels of Access:

1. Public Access: Assistance is available to anyone needing help (e.g., visitors in a public library, customers in a food

bank, etc.). These agencies are listed on homepage: Public Access Directory.

2. Limited Access: Assistance is available to the agency’s own clients only (e.g., patients in a community clinic,

students in a community college, etc.).

Region CollegeOr School

Community Organization

GovernmentAgency

Library Medical Provider

Tribe SNAP Outreach

Child Care

TOTAL

Region 1 27 111 13 5 62 6 23 4 251

Region 2 13 171 18 51 49 2 53 6 363

Region 3 37 82 15 48 23 6 34 1 246

Other* 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 4

Total 77 366 46 104 136 14 110 11 864

Community Partners: Types of Organizations

(As of Jan 3, 2017)* Counties outside the state border where partners also serve Washington residents.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS (2)

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Community Partners:

• Receive marketing materials and invitation to free trainings, webinars, and community meetings

• Opportunity to network with other partnering agencies

• Provide customers with full service access to program information and benefits

• Ability to create Partner Profile Account, complete and review client applications, assign cases to staff

• Perform DSHS/HCA client SEARCH queries to better serve the customers

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List of Registered Community Partners with Public Access

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List of Registered Community Partners with Public Access

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Implementation Milestones: Changes Due to Affordable Care Act (1)

Washington Connection

(DSHS)

Cash

Food Childcare

Classic

Medicaid

Washington

Healthplanfinder

(Health Benefit Exchange)

MAGI Medicaid

Modified Adjusted

Gross Income

(MAGI) Medicaid

How clients apply after Affordable Care Act (10/1/2013)

Food

How different?

See next slide.

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Implementation Milestones: Changes Due to Affordable Care Act (2)

Classic Medicaid: Applied through Washington Connection

Classic Medicaid includes:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Medicare Savings Program

Long Term Care support and waivered services

Age 65+, Blind, or with Disabilities

Foster children (referral to Health Care Authority)

Children’s Long Term Inpatient Program

MAGI Medicaid: Applied through Washington Healthplanfinder

Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) – A methodology for

determining eligibility according to income and household

composition for:

Family

Children

Pregnant Women

New adults: Age 18-64

Alien Emergency Medical

Washington Connection

homepage and online application

direct users to Washington

Healthplanfinder for healthcare

application if they meet MAGI

Medicaid criteria.

After finishing application on

Healthplanfinder, users can

choose to transfer basic data to

Washington Connection if they

want to apply for food, cash, long-

term support, or child care.

• Partner with Washington State Community and Technical Colleges to add “Start Next Quarter” program

• Add Long-Term Support Service programs

• Add capability for HBE Healthplanfinder to receive client data from Washington Connection for MAGI Medicaid application

• Add “Crime Victims Compensation Program” to prescreening

• Add New resource links added to Washington Connection to support Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act

• New resource links added to support seniors

• Add Prefilled Eligibility Renewals and Change Reports with Known Client Information

• Add Auto Renewals for non-MAGI Medical Coverage

• Enable WACON to receive SAW account update information from WaTech

• Linking SAW process and partner registration process to improve usability

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Implementation Milestones (1)

• Reach out to selected clients and help them create Client Benefit Accounts

• Reach out to DOC and support the initiative to enable online application submissions by DOC personnel with Assisting Agency status

• Offer training in remote areas including training hosted by community partners

• Collaborate with regions to determine underserved areas and to identify gaps in outreach

• Identify and reach out current partners that can serve as “Champions” for underserved populations

• Offer On-Demand training to partner’s Subject Matter Experts only

• Establish an ongoing communication.

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Implementation Milestones (2)

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Future Direction

Desired Features (Wish List):

Make electronic letters available online

Enable users to upload documents

Redesign website for mobile users

Provide Live Chat customer support

Enable real-time text updates

Add a “Search” feature

Add more programs to online application

Create a training region for partners

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Desired Improvements:

Increase registered community partners

Increase online submissions by partners

Strengthen support and outreach to partners

Increase access points for

underserved populations

Mission:

Improve access to a variety of services and benefits to help families and individuals meet basic needs and achieve self-sufficiency