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County looks to streamline DSS with automation
By Francesca Olsen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
COLUMBIA COUNTY — Social services commissioner Paul Mossman announced Monday that the county Department of Social Services will be automating its entire claims/receivables system as soon as possible.
“As a result of the recent audit finding, it is imperative for us, especially with a budget as large as ours, that we need to do something prior to the county deciding what kind of program they want to establish, countywide,” Mossman said.
Mossman also said that the county has been looking at a county-wide system of automating their human resources financial systems, but that DSS wanted to automate immediately, due to $9 million in anticipated accounts recievables recently discovered as being incorrectly represented in the county’s general fund. He said that a fully automated process would be more efficient in claiming and recording settlements for complicated state and federal funding of programs.
“This would probably have happened anyway, regardless of the findings,” he said. “We have to use automation. Considering the complexities of the programs and the different funding streams, it’s very difficult to manage different programs and grants on our current system.”
The current system incorporates an automated claims system, and the receipt of the settlement of claims comes to DSS electronically, but is manually recorded. “We’re going to complete the loop and have everything electronic and automated,” Mossman said.
Additionally, Mossman said DSS will do some “strategic planning” so that multiple employees from multiple departments know more than one part of the claiming process. For example, the accounting unit at DSS does the claiming, and the administrative unit gets information about the settlement of the claim.
“We’re trying to cross-train so that everybody knows the system, so if one person is out, it doesn’t delay the process,” Mossman said. He added that DSS isn’t behind on its claims at all, “but I think it would be easier if we automate. I think it’d probably be easier to develop reports that could be used to manage the receivables better.”
Mossman said that DSS is not looking to invest in new and potentially expensive software for automating, since the county is heading toward an all-encompassing autmation system. Software like Peachtree or QuickBooks will be used to meet immediate needs.
Work with receivables will also be re-assigned “to someone who has a little more expertise in that area,” Mossman said. The responsible party will now be deputy commissioner Michaele Williams-Riordon. “She comes from a not-for-profit business sector and she’s more trained, and has the expertise in that area.”
When asked whether he thought social service agencies in other counties have already switched to a fully automated claims process, Mossman said, “I would certainly hope so.”
“The number of programs have expanded. The reimbursement process has become more complex. Therefore, it’s almost out of survival that you have to automate.”
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
“As a result of the recent audit finding, it is imperative for us, especially with a budget as large as ours, that we need to do something prior to the county deciding what kind of program they want to establish, countywide,” Mossman said.
Mossman also said that the county has been looking at a county-wide system of automating their human resources financial systems, but that DSS wanted to automate immediately, due to $9 million in anticipated accounts recievables recently discovered as being incorrectly represented in the county’s general fund. He said that a fully automated process would be more efficient in claiming and recording settlements for complicated state and federal funding of programs.
“This would probably have happened anyway, regardless of the findings,” he said. “We have to use automation. Considering the complexities of the programs and the different funding streams, it’s very difficult to manage different programs and grants on our current system.”
The current system incorporates an automated claims system, and the receipt of the settlement of claims comes to DSS electronically, but is manually recorded. “We’re going to complete the loop and have everything electronic and automated,” Mossman said.
Additionally, Mossman said DSS will do some “strategic planning” so that multiple employees from multiple departments know more than one part of the claiming process. For example, the accounting unit at DSS does the claiming, and the administrative unit gets information about the settlement of the claim.
“We’re trying to cross-train so that everybody knows the system, so if one person is out, it doesn’t delay the process,” Mossman said. He added that DSS isn’t behind on its claims at all, “but I think it would be easier if we automate. I think it’d probably be easier to develop reports that could be used to manage the receivables better.”
Mossman said that DSS is not looking to invest in new and potentially expensive software for automating, since the county is heading toward an all-encompassing autmation system. Software like Peachtree or QuickBooks will be used to meet immediate needs.
Work with receivables will also be re-assigned “to someone who has a little more expertise in that area,” Mossman said. The responsible party will now be deputy commissioner Michaele Williams-Riordon. “She comes from a not-for-profit business sector and she’s more trained, and has the expertise in that area.”
When asked whether he thought social service agencies in other counties have already switched to a fully automated claims process, Mossman said, “I would certainly hope so.”
“The number of programs have expanded. The reimbursement process has become more complex. Therefore, it’s almost out of survival that you have to automate.”
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
peoplesview99 wrote on Nov 24, 2009 1:43 PM:
" I hope that the county board of supervisors has a handle on everything related to DSS. If the equipment is going to be expensive lets make sure staff get the appropriate training and that Mossman himself is trained so when there is confusion in the future, (which im sure there willl be) as to where county funds have gone we know where to point the finger. Chances are it will be Mossman, however, the board seems to continute to give him passes for poor managment skills. "
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stonepound wrote on Nov 22, 2009 3:39 AM: