Noteboom The Law Firm

Old Computer Program Given New Use for VA Benefits

July 15, 2010 - The Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) was designed to provide state public assistance agencies the ability to share information about how certain recipients receive certain benefits. Its function was to prevent people receiving welfare from claiming it in more than one state.

PARIS is being utilized for a new use: finding Medicaid recipients who are unaware they are eligible for VA benefits and putting the cost of providing health care on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Congress has required states to use the system in an attempt to reduce Medicaid fraud since 2009 as a prerequisite for receiving federal Medicaid money for any automated data system.

PARIS has been used to search for veterans, however, since the inception of a 2003 pilot program. The program was so successful other states began to follow the same path. To date, thousands of veterans have been found eligible for both VA benefits and TRICARE whereas before they relied solely on Medicaid benefits. These veterans are now receiving much better care and benefits and have saved states millions of dollars in health care costs.

PARIS provides more than just allowing states the ability to match their state assistance information against other states' Medicaid. The system also allows states to search for information on applicants of Worker's Compensation and child support benefits. States are also able to take part in a federal matching program, which would allow them to compare information with data provided by the VA or Department of Defense (DoD).