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Finally, an EIS-R Project Update! I’m sure many of you have probably been wondering, “What’s going on?”

View this ARIES update. (PDF)

The following set of frequently asked questions about health insurance, medicaid, and Denali KidCare was posted to the DPA public website. Please review and feel free to pass on to others who may want to know more about these topics.

FAQs on health insurance, medicaid, and Denali KidCare. (PDF)

As we are approaching our October 1st GO-LIVE date, the EIS-R Project Team is moving at high speed to bring us closer to a successful ARIES implementation. Now, it is time for user acceptance testing. August is a busy month for technology readiness and testing, a month full of anticipation and excitement.

The EIS-R Project Team is continuing to make steady progress toward meeting our October 1st deadline for Release 1a Go-Live! This update includes some very exciting information about the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and upcoming events.

ARIES Kickoff Meeting Highlights:

There continues to be a tremendous amount of activity with the EIS-R Project. Since March, the Project Team has completed six weeks of requirements sessions followed by ten weeks of system design sessions for Release 1a. As a result of these sessions, Deloitte has started the actual software development of ARIES.

If you haven’t heard by now, the name of the replacement EIS has been selected: Alaska’s Resource for Integrated Eligibility Services (ARIES). A tremendous amount of time and effort was spent by the Project Team formulating the contest, determining an approach for reviewing the entries, and the time required to actually review the 108 submissions. In making its final recommendation, the team considered the criteria identified in the contest. We also ensured this acronym was not used by another information system within the State. The final recommendation was forwarded to Ron Kreher (Director, Division of Public Assistance) for approval.

Great news! The EIS-R Project is underway and making progress! This project update is the first of many that will occur over the next few years. A primary goal of the EIS-R Project Team is to share as much information as possible about the project’s status, the project schedule, and provide insight about the new EIS.

With the terrific help of DPA staff members Sara Lynch, Cynthia Washington, Jeff Miller, Alan Rice, Cheryl Windham, Leola Monteiro, Erik Ross, Priscilla Augafa, Tracy Appelo, Lisa Baldwin, and Dwynda Kelly and amazing tech support from Gus Michaud from DHSS IT, Anchorage’s Project Homeless Connec

When DPA began efforts to LEAN our core business processes it was acknowledged that leveraging technology would bring additional benefits and efficiencies that further enhance our system of work and add to the quality of the services we provide Alaskans. Since our first KAIZEN event, we have been pursuing efforts to modernize the tools and technology division employees use every day. Overall, there are about three dozen IT-related projects in the initial planning stages or under development. These projects range from enormous undertakings such as a replacement for EIS to relatively modest endeavors like enhancements to the Case Management System (CMS) used by work services case managers. We are also working on replacing the Fraud Case Management System, initial planning for a statewide, integrated phone system, and a replacement for AKWIC the system used to certify eligibility and issue food benefits for participants of the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC).

What follows is the start of an ongoing effort to keep you informed about the development and implementation of information technology within the Division of Public Assistance.