B2G Blog - Grants

Deltek Pulse: Health care and social services in review ? April 2013

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:25:00 -0400

April saw the release of a tenth round of Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Establishment Grants, awarded to Arkansas ($16.5 million), Hawaii ($128.1 million), Illinois ($115.8 million), New Hampshire ($5.4 million), and Rhode Island ($9.8 million). Details about states’ plans for these funds are explained here. On a related note, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) also announced the availability of new funding to support navigators in states with federally-facilitated or state-partnership HIX models. Activity also picked up in states that received funding for model design through CMS’ state innovation model (SIM) initiative, including Texas and Iowa.

Notable solicitation releases in April included:

The District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) released an RFP for a Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA) State Self-Assessment (SS-A). Deltek will provide updates about the future procurement of a Medicaid management information system (MMIS) here.
The Rhode Island Department of Administration, on behalf of the Department of Human Services (DHS), released an RFP for maintenance and operations of the InRHODES eligibility system.
Three states released RFPs for pharmacy benefits management (PBM) services, including the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Mississippi Department of Health (DOH), and the Indiana Department of Administration (DOA).
New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released an RFP for SIM planning services.

Notable contract awards in April included:

The Mississippi Department of Health (DOH) awarded its Patient Information Management System (PIMS) contract to Siemens Medical Solutions for just more than $3 million.
The Hawaii Department of Human Services awarded the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program contract to Xerox for nearly $9 million.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) awarded its Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Call Center project to Xerox. Deloitte is building the state’s HIX through a contract awarded in October 2012 for more than $100 million.
The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation awarded the Integrated Health Record System contract to CoCentrix.
The Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange awarded its Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) project to HealthPass.

Big news surfaced in Louisiana with the cancelation of a $29 million contract with Deloitte for the replacement Medicaid Eligibility Determination System (MEDS), originally awarded in April 2011. The state’s Office of Contractual Review cited the original RFP included a preference for a .net solution while Deloitte's contract proposal uses Microsoft Dynamics. The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) asked for an additional requirement for the system that was outside the original scopeand warranted a new RFP release. Prior to becoming the secretary of DHH, Bruce Greenstein was managing director of Worldwide Health for Microsoft. Greenstein also hired another Microsoft employee, Zachery Jiwa, to be DHH's chief technology officer, but he left the department in November 2012. DHH now plans to release a new RFP for the replacement MEDS.

Looking to May and the upcoming summer months, we anticipate activity will pick up in states participating in the SIM initiative as CMS approves states’ proposals, of which many have now undergone changes after initial review from CMS. We also anticipate an influx of contract awards for HIX navigator programs, particularly with CMS’ announcement of the availability of federal funding for navigators. States in federally-facilitated or partnership HIX models may also begin to draft legislation and plan for takeovers of additional HIX functions in the future, such as the recently enacted House Bill 1508 in Arkansas.

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Sequestration Effects on State and Local Opportunities

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:49:00 -0400

Several state programs could be in jeopardy beginning March 1^st if the sequestration takes place. Programs that rely more heavily on grant funding through FEMA, such as emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, are more likely to be affected. Although, at this point, it is hard to determine the long-term effects; sequestration could potentially stunt any progress that has been made on these programs.

As previously highlighted by Kristin Howe, sequestration will have an impact on the public safety sector. Funds that have been set aside for relief of disasters such as Hurricane Sandy could be cut including the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). In addition, state 911 programs and emergency communication plans could also feel the aftermath of sequestration. States including: Massachusetts, California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Dakota and New Jersey have all been making diligent efforts to implement or upgrade current 911 technologies to Enhanced or Next Generation systems. Some of these projects have already been put on hold in order to secure additional funding. Sequestration could potentially prolong that process.

Cuts to homeland security could diminish funds to the Assistance to Fire fighters Grant (AFG) program as well as state and local law enforcement grants from the Justice Department such as the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). These cuts could harm a variety of information sharing initiatives taking place in Arizona and Kansas as well as offender management projects taking place in Kansas, Oregon, Connecticut and Vermont.

Analyst’s Take

It will be interesting to see how sequestration could affect the extent to which localities move forward with projects. Many localities who have expressed desire to update 911 systems and emergency communication capabilities are prolonging their efforts in order to align with the state. Sequestration may diminish trickling funds and localities may instead look for opportunities to piggyback off statewide contracts.

Vendors should also note that there are other ways to get around DHS grant funding for projects such as NG911 and emergency communications. While there are other grant options available for NG911, many state agencies may choose to rely on increased surcharge collections to obtain additional funding.

GovWin IQ subscribers can read further into sequestration here. Non-subscribers can gain access with a GovWin IQ free trial.

Armed guards and video surveillance: A quest to further secure our schools

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:01:00 -0400

In the light of the recent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., governments across the United States are in hot debate over how to implement stricter security standards within our nation’s schools. This proactive approach to school security has led to the proposition of using armed security personnel such as police or trained guards to prevent the occurrence of any future tragedies. Another option brought to the table involves the implementation of extensive video surveillance networks in schools. Both approaches to increasing public safety standards have led governments to draw additional funds to help thwart these types of incidents.

Agencies across the nation, including the state of Virginia, are calling for budget discussions in efforts to restore funds that were previously cut for officer presence at schools. While personnel costs remain an expensive investment for governments to maintain, many feel the benefits will outweigh the extra costs in the long run.

Due to cost concerns, many states and localities are also considering arming teachers and other school staff to supplement having to hire additional law enforcement officers. This recommendation has generated a lot of questions among policymakers regarding liability, types of weapons, training, and standards that would differentiate between school staff and police officers. Schools are also considering hiring additional school resource officers (SROs), which are certified law enforcement officers assigned to a school district. The House Appropriations Committee has also announced a proposal for the inclusion of additional money to increase SRO presence within schools.

The spike in personnel needs also parallels the call for additional technology resources; some schools are considering increased surveillance measures such as linking video systems to police departments. While schools already utilize video surveillance systems for preventing criminal activity such as vandalism and theft, this is a first step to linking real-time feeds to law enforcement centers.The city of Atlanta, Ga., proposed integrating Atlanta Public Schools into the police department’s growing surveillance network. The goal is to have live video feeds transmitted into the city’s video integration center that is actively monitored by officers, and increase response efforts to any school-related catastrophe. By using this method, departments may have to increase their expenditures on employees to monitor the video feeds.

Analyst’s Take

These various steps to enhancing school security will surely offer vendors an opportunity to build business in the public safety market. Armed-personnel presence may push governments to purchase additional technology such as mobile/portable radios, and officer-worn cameras to improve operations. On the other hand, vast surveillance networks in schools could lead to the formation of private-public partnerships and additional systems integration with public safety departments. Cities and counties may even begin generating funds for the build out of real-time crime centers.

As part of continuous efforts to partner law enforcement and school districts, many schools will be eligible for additional grant funding for public safety infrastructure. Vendors should be on the lookout for grant programs that may be created or expanded, including the SRO program, to assist localities in paying for additional resources.

GovWin IQ subscribers can read further about surveillance projects here. Non-subscribers can gain access with a GovWin IQ free trial.

HHS releases $1.5 billion to states for exchange efforts

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:27:00 -0400

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a whopping $1.5 billion in funding to states to help fund initiatives around setting up their health insurance exchange, or should we say, “health insurance marketplaces,” as rebranded by HHS. The department believes the new name will help with marketing and raising public awareness of these upcoming systems. Here’s a breakdown of today’s awards:

Level-One Exchange Establishment Grant Recipients

Delaware - The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services received $8,536,543; activities will include supporting the review of qualified health plan applications in March 2013.

Iowa - The Iowa Department of Public Health received $6,844,913; activities will include developing an in-person assister program that will provide services to educate consumers about their health plan options.

Michigan - The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs received $30,667,944; funding will be used to support the state’s Consumer Assistance Partnership Program.

Minnesota - The Minnesota Department of Commerce was awarded $39,326; funding will be used to support the technical infrastructure of the state’s information technology solution.

North Carolina - The North Carolina Department of Insurance received $73,961,296; funding will be used to support the implementation of the state’s healthcare reform module.

Vermont - The Vermont Department of Health Access received $104,178,965; funding will be used to complete projects necessary to meet the exchange certification requirements and ensure the system will be operational by October 2013.

Level-Two Exchange Establishment Grant Recipients

California - The California Health Benefit Exchange received $673,705,358; funding will be used to help build administrative and operational infrastructure.

Kentucky - The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services received $182,707,738; funding will be used to develop a comprehensive consumer and stakeholder engagement and support network.

Massachusetts - The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority received $81,256,970; funding will be used to support the transition of the Health Connector to an Affordable Care Act-compliant, state-based exchange.

New York - The New York State Department of Health received $185,822,357; funding will be used to support marketing and outreach efforts.

Oregon - The Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Corp received $226,472,074; funding will be used to cover costs associated with testing, training and implementation of the IT user interface through the October 2013 enrollment date.

Be sure to check out Deltek’s brand new Health Insurance Exchange Vertical Profile Application. The expanded coverage gives vendors a competitive edge by extensively tracking states’ progress in HIX implementation. As always, be sure to follow Deltek’s Health Care and Social Services Team on Twitter @GovWin_HHS, or connect with us through LinkedIN.

REAL ID compliance deadline nears

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:48:00 -0400

On January 15, 2.2 million licensed drivers in the state of Iowa will have the option to possess a REAL ID. Iowa is among 13 states that have met the legal requirements necessary for implementing a REAL ID program. While many states are still opposed to any REAL ID legislation, those that have expressed interest will begin administering REAL ID cards on a voluntary basis beginning next week.

Efforts to implement REAL ID programs stem from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) REAL ID Act of 2005, which proposes and regulates the inclusion of information and security features into each issued driver’s license/ID card. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, as of February 2012, 35 states expressed a commitment to comply with REAL ID requirements. Five of those states – Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, South Dakota and Tennessee – have submitted compliance packages to the Department of Homeland Security. Ten states have expressed interest in improving secure driver’s license and identification standards, but are opposed to any REAL ID legislation.

Much opposition toward these programs is due to fear that REAL ID will eventually lead to the creation of national databases. Other issues center on the costs associated with compliance. Estimates have demonstrated that the cost of a REAL ID program will cost about $11 billion over five years. The cost burden has caused states to rely on available government grants to help fund their program. The DHS has awarded more than $200 million in available grants since 2008 to help fund implementation efforts. Total grant allocation has increased since first introduced in 2008. Initially, the only states that received funding were those that submitted proposals detailing how available funds would be used; these were termed “priority” states.

While REAL ID remains off the radar of federally mandated programs, it is expected in the coming years that some federal agencies and/or buildings will only accept a driver’s license in compliance with REAL ID standards. The current law is expected to be phased in over several years as drivers wait until their current license expires.

Analyst’s Take

Most states have generated some support for more stringent standards for DL/ID documents in efforts to curb identity theft and fraud as well as prevent future acts of terrorism; therefore, it is likely that many states will be committed to upgrading their current DL/ID systems in the coming years.

Although some states have flat out rejected any movement toward REAL ID programs, there may still be selling opportunities available for vendors. Michigan and New York are among a few states that have chosen to enhance existing security features to their current ID programs through an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) program. EDL has become a likely alternative to REAL ID due to lower implementation costs, and vendors should note that specific guidelines for obtaining EDL may vary from state to state as different forms of identification may be required.

Vendors should also make note of which states have applied for or have received grant funding to assist with REAL ID implementation efforts. January 15 may launch many state agencies to upgrade a multitude of systems including information-sharing databases that may need to be linked with state systems.

Deltek pulse: justice/public safety and homeland security December review

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:49:00 -0400

The most common technologies and services procured across states and localities in December were fire alarm and suppression systems, security/cctv systems and 911 systems. The word cloud below provides a visual interpretation of key-term frequency.

911 systems: 6 solicitations
Security/ CCTV systems: 19 solicitations
Fire Alarm or Suppression Systems: 19 solicitations

Public safety communications for cities and counties around the country hit a turning point in December. While there were numerous trends throughout 2012 – from an increase in the use of NG911 technologies, to public safety institutions beginning to use cloud-based options for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) records management systems (RMS) – one trend exceeded them all: narrowbanding.

December was the final month localities had to meet the FCC’s narrowbanding requirement or request waivers if they had no hope of doing so. Even those granted waivers were required to have concrete plans in place about how and when they expect to meet the deadline, and localities worked diligently to put those in place. Several localities announced plans to replace or upgrade their radio systems in the near future, and others made definitive decisions about how they would be moving forward with those projects. Fulton County, Ga., released an RFP on December 28 for its radio system, and Carroll County, Md., made the decision to move forward with its radio system without the aid of a consultant. Despite the passage of the narrowbanding deadline, many counties and cities will still be looking to upgrade their radio systems in the coming months and years, as a large number have not yet met the FCC’s requirements.

Radio solicitations were not the only ones released in December; several states and larger localities also moved forward with large-scale projects that had been in the works. The city of Freemont, along with Dodge County, Nebraska, released an RFP for 911 call processing equipment. Massachusetts released an RFP for its electronic filing project two years after the RFI was issued. The state also released a solicitation for an inmate phone system for all facilities run by the state corrections department.

Numerous requests for information for major projects were also released in December. Kansas released an RFI for E911 GIS for all of the state’s public safety answering points (PSAPs), and Vermont issued a statewide RFI for an automated vehicle locating system for the Department of Public Safety.

The widespread release of solicitations highlights one of December’s main trends: increased clarity regarding the direction of projects. Across the county, it seems as though decisions were finally being made about how to proceed with projects. Florida finally canceled its initiative to develop a federated security plan after releasing an RFI in July 2011, and in Alaska, development of a solicitation for a case management system has officially begun.

The last major trend of December involved, unsurprisingly, increased interest in emergency notification systems. After the devastating weather phenomenon experienced in 2012, from July’s derecho to Superstorm Sandy, localities are beginning to realize the importance of being able to contact citizens at a moment’s notice. The increase in electronic communications has underscored the need for communities such as Honolulu, Hawaii, and Illinois State University to branch out in how they communicate with citizens.

Analyst’s Take

Vendors should be on the lookout for more solicitation releases in the coming months. It is likely that departments will issue RFIs to gather budget information for projects they hope to pursue in the coming fiscal year, which begins for most states and localities on July 1. Many departments will also begin assembling their budget proposals if they have not done so already, and they will require a clear picture of expected costs. This may also be the reason for the rise in solicitations. Often, departments are required to use the funds they have been granted before the end of the fiscal year, or they risk losing them. By releasing RFPs now, it is likely that they are counting on being able to award them and sign a contract prior to the beginning of the fiscal year.

Many local agencies are also taking the fiscal cliff and sequestration into account as they make decisions about what projects will move forward. While the fiscal cliff was averted earlier this week, the bill passed acted only as a stopgap measure, and sequestration is still very much a reality. Congress only has until March 1 to pass additional measures to keep sequestration from going into effect. Agencies are therefore likely to continue working quickly to utilize any federal grant money they were given for this year. Should sequestration take effect, this grant money may be reduced or eliminated completely; so many communities are seeking to upgrade systems now in anticipation of the reduction in funds that may come next year.

These factors help explain the increased clarity on whether projects will be moving forward, as it will be imperative for solicitations to be released in the next few months to ensure that localities have time to conduct a complete evaluation period prior to the end of the current budget cycle. For those working on larger, multiyear projects, or that are allowed to carry over funds, it is still likely that procurement and program officers will be looking to move forward with projects as soon as possible. Expect solicitations to be released sometime toward the end of Q1 or beginning of Q2 so that agencies will be ready to award projects once FY 13 funds become available in July.

Vendor landscape in relation to JPS contracts won

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:09:00 -0400

Vendors looking for business opportunities in the justice/public safety (JPS) market are more likely to turn their heads toward California and Texas. According to Deltek’s database, a majority of JPS contracts awarded over the last three years have taken place in these states. Vendors seem to have picked up on this trend, as California and Texas are also home to many JPS vendors’ headquarters.

Deltek compiled a list of vendors who sell a multitude of JPS technologies, including radio communications, 911, surveillance and analytics. Most vendors who sell these technologies are primarily located in California, Texas, Florida, Virginia and New York, as shown below.

Over the last three years, the greatest numbers of awarded JPS contracts have come out of California, Texas, Washington state, Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia and New York. This is most likely due to the fact that these states have larger budgets and greater populations. Many of the darker-shaded states are home to some of the most populated cities in the United States. In addition, major cities within California, Texas, New York, and Massachusetts were among the top recipients of UASI grants in both FY 10 and FY 11, including New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Boston. Allocations for 2012 show that cities in New York, California and Florida will be among top recipients.

There is also strong correlation between where JPS contracts are being won and where the majority of vendors’ headquarters are located. This is likely due to vendors seeing greater business opportunities in these areas, and catering the majority of their marketing to these states.

The map shown below better depicts the correlation between vendor locations to contracts awarded in each state over the last three years. The vendor-to-contract ratio is pretty close, as shown by the darker states having the greatest number of both awarded contracts and vendors.

Analyst’s Take

Most vendors are focused on larger states such as Texas and California. Vendor location is highly important for business since vendors find greater benefit in locating where they can lobby for more contracts. Vendors looking to expand business, whether through relocation or setting up an additional office, may consider doing so in states that sign the most contracts.

Larger companies may have shied away from setting up headquarters within some of the centrally located states, not because they can’t win business, but because some of these states house small cities and counties that have an allegiance to home-based companies. The JPS market is traditionally more localized; therefore, smaller companies, though less likely to win a plethora of contracts, are more likely to win business with localized cities and counties. This also holds true nationwide. Many smaller governments like to localize their purchases, which in turn stimulates the economy and creates a ripple effect of generating more local business and creating more jobs.

Still, with most massive statewide initiatives such as radio communications, there is less of a trend toward vendor location, as states tend to consider top technology providers regardless of where they are located.

American Education Week: Race to the Top District grant a new local level market driver

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:33:00 -0400

The successful federal Race to the Top (RTTT) grant, established as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), has created a new $400 million grant competition targeting local education agencies (LEAs), called Race to the Top District (RTT-D). RTT-D, much like its state-centric counterpart, is intended to push education reform and innovation; only this time, it is targeting classroom learning. This new market driver is expected to influence growth in the procurement and development of education data systems. Applying LEAs that hope to win RTT-D funds will have to meet the stated requirements surrounding education data systems identified in the grant’s request for applications (RFA), such as:

At a minimum, use a robust data system that:

Uses an individual teacher identifier with a teacher-student match
Has the capability to provide timely data back to educators and their supervisors on student growth

Additionally, the LEAs should have the capability to:

Allow parents and students to export their information in an open data format
Demonstrate the ability to measure student progress and performance against college- and career-ready graduation requirements
Ensure student education records comply with FERPA
Receive and/or match student data from preschool through 12th grade and higher education

Lastly, LEAs are required to:

Implement a teacher, principal, and superintendent evaluation system by no later than the 2014-2015 school year

The U.S. Education Department (USED) has received intent-to-apply notices from 892 LEAs representing 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Priority will be given to LEAs in states already awarded RTTT funds. In December 2012, the USED is expected to announce only 15-25 awards, spanning four years and ranging from $5 million to $40 million, based on the size of the LEA’s student population. In order to be eligible, LEAs must also:

Have at least 2,000 students, with 40 percent or more who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches
Apply the funds toward learning strategies that personalize education in all or a set of schools, within specific grade levels, or select subjects
Must obtain a signoff of support from the district superintendent or CEO, local school board president, and local teacher union or association president (where applicable)

Analyst’s Take

The future of the RTT-D grant competition depends on the success of this first installment. However, much like how the RTTT fueled major education innovations at the state level, RTT-D is expected to do the same at the local level. Over the next four years, applicant LEAs, whether they are awarded or not, will strive to make the investment in required and recommended education data systems just to vie for the extra federal funds. Like a lottery jackpot, most of the 892 applicant LEAs will not win this or any future RTT-D grant funds they apply for, but the possibility is enough to make the comparatively small risk of investing in systems, solutions, and services that could get them closer. The USED is using RTT-D like the proverbial rabbit in a greyhound race – not all will win, but they will run!

Based on the RTT-D requirements listed above, specific types of RTT-D related opportunities are likely to become more prevalent, such as:

Teacher/administrator performance tracking IT systems
Analytic and reporting tools
Interoperable education data systems
Unique identifier systems/solutions
Integration services
Identification and access management solutions

Remember to stay connected to Deltek’s General Government Services team via Twitter @GovWin_GenGov for more updates on trends, analysis and opportunities in the public education IT market.

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This Week in Deltek's American Education Week Blog Series:

Monday, November 12th - American Education Week: Top education opportunities and trends, 2012

Tuesday, November 13th - American Education Week: K-12 virtual learning procurement, 2012

Wednesday, November 14th - American Education Week: State and local education data systems, 2012

Analyst Panel Discussion on Crime Technologies and Grants

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:11:00 -0400

While police officers are often categorized as crime helpers or crime solvers, their job has increasingly become about preventing crimes from happening in the first place. Officers are not alone in this effort as many departments are opting to purchase various technologies that are known to modify behavior and reduce crime. Surveillance systems, red-light cameras, and drones are increasingly being used to keep citizens in line, similar to physical police presence. The below video discusses the growing crime prevention market and provides tips on how vendors can work to increase their market share. The video also offers insight into what communities around the country are doing to pay for these new technologies.

Anyone with questions about this market is encouraged to submit inquiries to StateLocalResearch@deltek.com or through Twitter @GovWinPubSafety. The questions will be addressed in a follow-up blog.

Personnel

Historically, personnel costs have consumed most law enforcement agencies’ budgets. Police employment continues to rise with population and will continue to drive the public safety market. Still, law enforcement agencies will continue to look at technology such as surveillance to supplement boots on the ground, increase public safety and achieve cost savings.

Police employment has risen more than 60 percent in the last 20 years – 200 percent at the federal level, and about 50 percent at the state and local level. A significant spike on the federal side can be attributed to the post 9/11 securitization that took place across the country. State and local growth can be attributed to general population increase. Over the past 20 years, three to four police personnel have been employed per 1,000 residents.

Surveillance

Some of the most well-known and understood technologies used to prevent crime are that of surveillance systems. Many cities have begun utilizing this technology to keep citizens safe, whether through the use of CCTV systems installed by agencies themselves, or through larger, more complex networks of both private and public security cameras that officers can access in the event of an emergency.

Red-light cameras and speed cameras have also become increasingly common safety tools. Red-light cameras can be used by cities to both increase revenue and improve safety by placing them where a large number of accidents take place.

Another method of enhancing safety is through the use of domestic drones. A multitude of vendors have already developed drones for use overseas, and the race is on to adapt them for domestic use in the coming years.

While surveillance systems certainly have many benefits, their usage is not without concern. Numerous civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU, have expressed concern with their usage and the security of data captured. With the likely increase in drone usage, this debate is not likely to cool down anytime soon.

Predictive Policing

Predictive policing has provided departments with a more innovative way to target criminal activity and utilize resources more efficiently. Predictive policing solutions including crime analytics and hot-spot identification allow departments to determine which areas are more susceptible to criminal activity as well as predict future occurrences. By receiving information in real time, departments are able to have a more proactive and less reactive approach to fighting crime, which leads to faster response times and increased arrests.

Predictive policing solutions are custom built to an agency’s infrastructure. By utilizing a complete solution, agencies can analyze different variables such as the nature of 911 calls received as well as the types of crimes reported in each location. This data is then further analyzed to identify crime patterns and problem areas to strategize officer deployments. Predictive policing can also incorporate the addition of new programs such as open-access networking, social media and gunshot detection location systems.

The market for predictive policing has grown over the past decade and will continue to be at the forefront of the public safety technology market, particularly for its ability to be linked with other data sources that feed into a real-time crime center including CCTV, GIS mapping software, and traffic monitoring equipment.

Grants

As agencies consider different ways to prevent crime, whether through new technologies like CCTV or with more police officers on the street, there will always be one constant: money. Agencies must find funding within capital budgets, general budgets, bonds or other sources. When these areas come up short, federal grants are also an option.

In fiscal year 2012 (FY12), the Department of Justice (DOJ) awarded more than $600 million in grants to agencies for crime prevention initiatives. It remains to be seen what type of funding levels will be made available to states in FY 13. The DOJ requested $1.8 billion for FY 13, $200 million less than in FY 12, and with the possibility of sequestration occurring on January 2, 2013, that request could be reduced significantly. State and local agencies must be prepared to deal with fewer grant dollars while at the same time figuring out how to best improve crime-prevention methods. The use of emerging technologies will be essential to every agency, large or small.

Questions about this video can be submitted to StateLocalResearch@deltek.com or through Twitter @GovWinPubSafety.

Hurricane Sandy: FEMA, social media and first responders

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:56:00 -0400

As states along the East Coast begin cleanup efforts from one of the most destructive storms in history, we examine how Hurricane Sandy stands out compared to other recent weather catastrophes. During previous national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, there was no Twitter or Instragram that put breaking news in the hands of civilians. People around the world had to wait patiently by their TVs and computers for the latest images of New Orleans completely underwater, or devastating earthquake damage in Haiti. Despite widespread Internet use and the growing use of smartphones, news still wasn’t quite instant.

Yesterday, in the face of one of the biggest natural disasters to hit the East Coast, people took pictures, shot videos, sent tweets, and posted to Facebook, all in real time. According to Mashable, Instagram users posted 10 Hurricane Sandy photos per second. Photos coming in at 60 a minute and 3,600 per hour provided more than 86,000 images in a 24-hour period. And this is just one of many social media sites.

While it is difficult to quantify how these pictures, tweets, Facebook messages, etc. affected the response times of first responders, or how many lives were saved, it is clear that news stations and first responders benefit from seeing where an emergency is in real time. In Manhattan, the 911 system was completely overloaded due to the receipt of 10,000 calls per hour; the city typically receives 1,000 per day. Using social media tools to send emergency images to news stations or police Twitter accounts was essential and will continue to be a vital component in rescue efforts.

Another piece of the puzzle that must be examined is that of disaster-relief funding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided coordinated disaster relief across the United States since 1978. Though the powers bestowed upon FEMA have changed, it is still a regional agency that not only coordinates relief, but provides funding to state and local governments to support restoration and other emergency efforts. While many people have differing views on what FEMA should provide as a sub-agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after large-scale disasters like that of Superstorm Sandy, local governments need help. Should funding be provided by states themselves? Should FEMA, with its larger infrastructure, be the one to determine the funding provided after a natural or other disaster? I’ll let you decide.

When looking at funding levels in recent years, you will see a clear downward trend. Over the past two years, there has been a 43 percent reduction in FEMA grants that pay for disaster preparedness. Additionally, should sequestration occur in January 2013 as planned, an additional 8.2 percent of disaster relief would be cut. One point in favor of letting FEMA provide emergency services and funds is that states in the red don’t have any funds for large-scale restoration. On the other hand, should the federal government sink deeper in debt to help? Again, it’s a matter of opinion.

As we look back on Hurricane Sandy months and years from now, the widespread destruction and loss of lives will be on many people’s minds, but we should also not forget the outpouring of social media response that curtailed even greater damage. State and local governments can now inform citizens instantly about closures and other situations that require real-time information. Disaster relief and rescue will never be the same.

Feds fund health and human services interoperability initiatives in seven states

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:58:00 -0400

Seven states – Colorado, New York, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, California, and Maryland – were recently awarded funding available through the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) State Systems Interoperability and Integration Projects grant. ACF announced the availability of $4.5 million worth of grant funding, received from the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation (the Partnership Fund) this past June, with applications due in mid-August. The objective of the funding is to provide additional planning resources to human services agencies to “explore and plan improved interoperability and integration in eligibility and enrollment, business process and workflows, case management, and other related functions across health and human services information technology systems.”

While states are required to integrate eligibility and enrollment (E&E) systems for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and health insurance exchanges (HIXs) as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ACF is encouraging states to consider planning for the inclusion of human services programs into these E&E systems by way of their Interoperability Initiative, which includes the State Systems Interoperability and Integration Projects and the OMB Circular A-87 Cost Allocation Waiver. Upon completion of the 12-month grant period, participating states will be required to produce a public report documenting the states’ experience, including outcomes, lessons learned, best practices, and project planning documents produced during the grant funding period.

If you are interested in more information on states’ health and human services interoperability initiatives, check out Deltek’s report on Integrated Eligibility Systems.

$224 million awarded for health insurance exchange efforts

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:13:00 -0400

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $223,695,549 to six states today (Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia) to help establish their health insurance exchanges (HIXs). Today’s awarded states are receiving Level One Establishment grants, except D.C., which received a Level Two grant. The funds are expected to further help states move forward with steps in creating the insurance marketplaces. So far, 49 states have received grant funding to build exchange infrastructure, and the grant opportunities will not stop now! States will continue to be able to apply for grants through 2014; awarded funds can be used during the first year the systems are operational.

Here’s a breakdown of today’s awards:

Arkansas: The Arkansas Insurance Department received $18,595,072 to work in partnership with HHS and other federal and state stakeholders to fully implement plan management and consumer assistance components of the federal exchange.

Colorado: The Colorado Health Benefit Exchange received $43,486,747 to establish services and systems that will help launch the new insurance exchange.

Kentucky: The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services received $4,423,000 to support the operational plan that outlines the planning, functional and technical design of the state exchange.

Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Commerce received $42,525,892 to support new contracts to assist in the development of brokers/navigators and consumer services programs for the exchange, and continued work related to financial management and consulting.

Massachusetts: The Commonwealth Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority received $41,679,505 to assist the Health Connector in efforts to successfully transition to a state-based exchange consistent with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

District of Columbia: The District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance received $72,985,333 to provide assistance to hire staff and consultants to manage activities related to the creation and first year of operations for testing and enhancement of the exchange.

As always, be sure to follow Deltek’s Health Care and Social Services Team on Twitter @GovWin_HHS, or connect with us through LinkedIn.

CalHEERS focusing efforts on outreach and education

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:40:00 -0400

The California Health Benefit Exchange recently released a report on the status of the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment and Retention System (CalHEERS). The state has been considering various names for the future benefit exchange, including CaliHealth, CalAccess, Welquest/Wellquest, Covered, CA/Covered, Cal, PACcess, Ursa, Healthifornia, Eureka, and the most popular thus far, Avocado. The state is looking more toward a creative name to provide context and meaning, and be “memorable.” California plans to have the final name approved for the logo by early November.

As far as outreach and education is concerned, California expects $40 million in federal funding over a two-year period. The program is expected to engage organizations and entities in order to heighten awareness and comprehension of health coverage options to promote a culture of coverage, encourage residents to enroll, and eliminate barriers to enrollment. Outreach and education are a huge component to the health insurance exchange initiative. California is considering the following as “Preliminary Concepts and Guiding Principles:”

· Targeting resources based on the greatest opportunity where the highest number of uninsured and subsidy eligible individuals can be reached

· Ensuring that all regions and markets in the state including the hard to move, rural and limited English proficient populations are reached through the program

· Complementing the Assisters Program and the broader market strategy, including plan marketing

As the 2014 deadline inches closer, states will be focusing their attention on ensuring that people are fully aware of these systems and their capabilities in providing health insurance coverage. As always, be sure to follow Deltek’s Health Care and Social Services Team on Twitter @GovWin_HHS or connect with us through LinkedIn.

National HIT Week Day 4 ? A look at health information exchanges

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:14:00 -0400

The health information exchange (HIE) arena exploded in 2009, with stimulus funding for electronic health records and HIEs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provided approximately $150 billion in health care funding, including $564 million under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). States were granted one award, ranging from $4 million to $40 million per state. The State HIE Cooperative Agreement Program funded states' efforts to rapidly build capacity for exchanging health information across the health care system.

In 2010, we saw 27 states release a request for proposals (RFP) or award a contract for their HIE.

As of today, the map is mostly red, with only Kansas and New Jersey still working on an RFP.

The following chart is a list of state HIE vendors with awarded or ongoing contracts. (It should be noted that this list is not inclusive, but represents a survey of prevalent vendors and example states with a contract award.)

Core components of most state HIEs include:

· Master patient index (MPI), which utilizes a standard identity/information correlation process to uniquely identify an individual and match patient data from different providers and care settings.

· Record locator service (RLS), which coordinates with the MPI and facilitates the exchange of secure messages and documents, but does not store information contained in the records.

· Authentication services, which are state-mandated security controls that identify who can access the statewide HIE.

· Access and authorization services, or role-based security, that controls how an individual is permitted to use the statewide HIE.

· Auditing and logging services

· Transport and content standards, which include nationally-recognized specifications and protocols to enable communication among different health data systems.

· Data transaction services, which include the processes and software necessary to facilitate the exchange of various types of data through the statewide HIE.

· User and system interface (methods to access the statewide HIE)

Although it may seem that the health insurance exchange (HIX) market has dominated news across the country, behind the scenes, HIEs are still large works in progress. The components above, and others necessary to operate exchanges, will need continued operation, maintenance, and potential enhancements to remain effective and functional. As with HIXs, sustainability is also a key concern as federal funding runs out. It should be interesting to watch the successes (and possible failures) of statewide HIE implementations, and how well citizens adopt and interact with their medical records.

Stay tuned for more highlighted health care projects from the Health Care and Social Services Team! In the meantime, check out the team’s Twitter and LinkedIn.

National Health IT Week kicks off

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:33:00 -0400

The seventh annual National Health IT Week kicks off today. The purpose of the weeklong event is to provide a collaborative forum where public and private health care constituents work together to educate industry and policy stakeholders on the value of health IT and the U.S. health care system. Deltek will be celebrating National Health IT Week with a blog series highlighting upcoming health IT opportunities across the United States.

The first state we’re examining is Nevada. Back in December 2011, the state’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing revealed plans to replace its Medicaid management information system (MMIS). At the same time, HP was awarded a contract to take over and operate the existing Nevada MMIS. The five-year base contract (with two, two-year renewal options) included service support for the core MMIS, peripheral systems/tools, Medicaid program claims processing, and program support services. The state plans to release a solicitation for Medical information technology architecture (MITA) 3.0 state self-assessment services (SSA) in November 2012.

Washington is another state looking to revamp its MMIS. The Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) released a request for information (RFI) in early August 2012, seeking information regarding fiscal/employer agent services. HCA, in conjunction with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), is in the process of implementing the second phase of its MMIS, which is called ProviderOne. Phase two is expected to add social services payments to ProviderOne. The fiscal/employer agent will be expected to interface with ProviderOne. CNSI is the state’s current MMIS vendor, and will be providing the interface design, development and implementation services for the project.

Stay tuned for more highlighted health care projects from the Health Care and Social Services Team! In the meantime, check out the team’s Twitter and LinkedIn.