July 20, 2010: Participation in the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) is required by states to receive Medicaid funding for automated data systems (including the Medicaid Management Information System). The requirement to participate, effective October 1, 2009 as part of the Qualifying Individual (QI) Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008, allows the sharing of enrollee and applicant information for state public assistance agencies (SPAAs) and federal agencies.
Opportunities for states using PARIS include identification of individuals eligible for Medicaid coverage but who have not applied as well as interstate data matching, which can identify individuals receiving duplicate benefits from multiple states. Currently state Medicaid programs participation is required, but for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is still voluntary.
The PARIS web site details best practices for states and highlights Washington’s use of data-matching with the Departments of Defense and Veteran’s Affairs (VA). Since the system started in 2003, the state has identified 5,655 veterans that were receiving Medicaid benefits. As a result of their transfer to military benefits, Washington has saved $18 million that would have been paid by Medicaid.