In recent years, several states have streamlined enrollment and case management procedures for programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program), and welfare. Some states have saved millions of dollars in annual administrative costs by simplifying eligibility rules, developing online enrollment procedures, centralizing back-office operations, and using community organizations as application sites. At the same time, several states have struggled with the introduction of new technology and the reorganization of staff roles.

Simplification of Health and Social Services Enrollment and Eligibility: Lessons for California from Interviews in Four States, a report from Mathematica Policy Research partially funded by the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF), compiles interviews with officials and advocates in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.

Lessons learned include:

• Simplifying eligibility rules can be an effective streamlining tool
• Community partners are an asset in conducting outreach
• Major changes to streamline eligibility and enrollment should be phased in
• State agencies must work to ensure buy-in of changes by frontline eligibility workers for streamlining to succeed

The complete report is available as a PDF download under External Links.