With about 35 years of experience in state government, the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) amusedly reminded the audience at this year’s Texas Digital Government Summit that lawmakers and others at the statehouse had to be convinced that multifunction printers were a good idea.
“We had carbon paper — that was in (1987) when I arrived at the Capitol. We were still writing letters … on yellow notepads and handing them to someone to type up,” she said Thursday evening.
Young, who has been the HHSC executive commissioner since 2020, received the Bob Bullock Award for Outstanding Public Stewardship during the annual Austin event.
The award is presented to a Texas state executive or elected official for outstanding leadership, innovation and a career that exemplifies dedication to serving Texas citizens. It’s named after former Texas state legislator, comptroller and lieutenant governor Bob Bullock.
Serving people well by using technology is what the HHSC strives to do, she said, and it is constantly investigating how to modernize data technology and how to better protect it.
“We have an amazing staff … every single day doing what we have to do to serve people,” Young said. “I’m grateful for those working for me and those who work above me.”
Now, she said, technology infuses all agency oversight and efforts in serving more than 9 million Texans.
The biennial state budget allocates $46 billion in 2024 and 2025 — a $7 billion raise — to HHSC. The agency administers 120 websites and 376 applications, with 183 of those designated mission-critical.
A massive lift now is redetermining eligibility for up to 5.9 million Medicaid recipients due to the March 31 ending of continuous coverage under pandemic emergency response.
In addition, the state Legislature voted to extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant and nursing mothers for 12 months, so there are multiple objectives in play while affirming that benefits are distributed in compliance.
Agency CFO Trey Wood explained funding needs during a March legislative committee meeting.
The agency requested funds for staff, 211 Texas Information and Referral Network (TIRN) support, the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) learning environment, the eligibility workload management system and lobby kiosks.
This includes data management, since IT systems are essential to tracking enrollees and managing reporting, among other requirements. According to a January report, there is also a public awareness campaign including text messaging and social media messaging to Medicaid members.
