Child Care Administrator’s Improper Payments Information Technology Guide

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C. Other Software Products from the Human Services Field (continued)

2. Data Brokering

Data brokering enables data exchange between partnering applications regardless of the hardware or software used by the legacy applications or external systems. Examples of data sources accessed by data brokering solutions include: TANF (IV-A), Medicaid, Food Stamps, SCHIP, LIHEAP, Foster Care (IV-E), Child Support (IV-D), Child Care Subsidy Programs, SSA data sources, Departments of Motor Vehicles, Vital Statistics, State Directories of New Hires, Unemployment Insurance (UI) Wage Data, and third-party employment and wage verification services.

a. How the Solution Addresses Improper Payments

The solution addresses the challenges of preventing and identifying improper payments by:

• Providing timely and accurate external sources of verification information to child care workers performing eligibility determinations; and
• Facilitating fraud investigations by providing accurate and timely data regarding household demographics, income, and expenses.

b. Example System Name and State

Systems Partnering in a Demographic Repository (SPIDeR), Virginia

c. Implementation Overview

Virginia realized productivity and efficiency gains with the implementation of its enterprise data brokering solution called Systems Partnering in a Demographic Repository (SPIDeR). SPIDeR improved accuracy in eligibility determination by enabling workers to access many databases to retrieve and verify information. SPIDeR has a user-friendly, web-based front end for multiple system inquiries. The legacy systems for the various business unit programs interface with SPIDeR and use its Common ID functionality. This functionality enables the users to see the customer’s composite profile, which includes all cases, programs, associated individuals, and payments.

Matching client records across all systems via a Common ID to create a composite profile is an important tool to prevent and identify fraud in all programs. Workers access and control the composite views across programs by role-based security standards that ensure confidentiality. SPIDeR has increased security, improved audit capabilities, and reduced account management activities with respect to user IDs and passwords.

SPIDeR was a catalyst for changing the business/service processes associated with delivering human services. As a result, Virginia has enhanced audit and security capabilities, and is pursuing other web-based solutions to assist in identifying and preventing improper payments. This data integration model is hardware and software independent.

Virginia implemented this initiative using Java, J2EE, WebSphere, Oracle, EasySoft, and Business Intelligence Systems (BIS) technologies. The application resides on Fujitsu PP1500 and uses Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

d. Costs

SPIDeR was developed in-house using existing staff resources over a period of years, and no additional hardware or software had to be purchased for its development or implementation.

e. Challenges

Virginia noted that a project of this sort requires a dedicated team, adequate budget, and executive-level leadership at the onset.

f. Benefits

Solution benefits include:

• Increased ability to share data with stakeholders, State systems, other States, Federal offices, and local offices;
• Improved worker efficiency by reducing keying in online and batch systems;
• Improved data quality because the system facilitates cleanup, reconciliation, SSA, and common client IDs; and
• System availability to all localities regardless of size and resources.