With states interested in saving seven-figure chunks of money, Vancouver resident Bill Allman is becoming a popular guy.
Allman pioneered a program that has saved Washington about $18 million by linking military veterans with the federal benefits they’ve earned, which means they don’t need state-funded assistance programs.
Allman, with the state’s Department of Social and Health Services, led several panel discussions on the idea during a recent national conference in Washington D.C.
The conference drew coverage from USA Today, which drummed up more interest.
o The national Public Assistance Reporting Information System database was created to find welfare cheats, identifying people who were collecting benefits in more than one state. It was expanded to include veterans and military records.
“I just got a call from Minnesota,” Allman said from his office a few days ago. The Minnesota officials weren’t able to attend the national conference, but, “They saw the story in USA Today.”
Allman did a pilot project in Clark County in 2001 before taking it statewide in 2002. The program uses a national Public Assistance Reporting Information System database, which matches records for state and federal agencies like the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs and state medical assistance programs like Medicaid.
Allman found that many people were unaware they were eligible for military or veterans’ benefits. Getting them signed up for VA or Defense Department health care reduced the state’s Medicaid expenses and liability for long-term care.
“Many are not aware of their eligibility. Many veterans think you must be disabled or that you have to be a war vet,” Allman, a Vietnam veteran, said.
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs is a partner in the project.
Montana is doing it own version of the program, said state official Russ Hill. Federal programs now are the first option for funding health care for active and retired military people, he said.
“We can measure $900,000 of additional savings without adding staff,” said Hill, with Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services. “That’s pretty substantial for a little state like Montana.”
California officials estimate the state could save $25 million annually if 10 percent of its veterans switched to VA health care, USA Today reporter Judy Keen wrote in her story.
Now Allman is looking at other portions of Washington’s safety net, including a state disability assistance program.
“We did a pilot program in Clark County,” Allman said, “and 9.7 percent of the clients were eligible for veterans benefits. There are 30,000 cases in the state; this would take 3,000 off the top.”
Allman’s office also is looking at local residents receiving help through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
“Maybe the head of the household is eligible for VA medical coverage,” Allman said.
“There is a homeless veterans reintegration program funded by the federal government, and an incarcerated veterans project,” Allman said. Those programs might be able to help other at-risk vets.
Montana officials hope to follow Allman’s example, widening their focus to identify more savings.
“We do,” Hill said. “Bill’s running; we’re walking. We hope to run one day.”
