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Q&A
Homebound client document submission process
0:57:02
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164 sec
Council Member Cabán inquires about the process for receiving documents from homebound clients and suggests potential improvements. Administrator Scott French explains the current methods and acknowledges the need for improvements.
- Document submission methods vary depending on the specific benefit program
- The mobile app can be used on-site to upload documents in some cases
- Concerns are raised about connecting uploaded documents to individual accounts
- The agency commits to following up with more specific details on different benefit programs
Tiffany Cabán
0:57:02
How how does DSS currently receive documents?
0:57:08
And this is just I just want to get a lot of detail on the record about this.
0:57:12
So how are you receiving the documents from clients who are homebound or providing that verification when they do request the receipt?
0:57:22
And then my follow ups to that, because I know I'm running out of time, are like, couldn't DSS scan the documents there and provide a paper receipt?
0:57:29
I can't stress enough that these are our most vulnerable clients who don't have the capacity to do some of this online submission or submit the documents in person or by mail.
0:57:39
And I think that there are absolutely ways to to work around the the privacy concerns that you have.
0:57:47
I worked as an attorney for a very long time.
0:57:50
I had to deal with HIPAA for a lot of my my clients and things that actually and we would get would get excuses of like, well, we can't do this, we can't give you this because of HIPAA.
0:58:03
And a lot of times it's like, no, I'm not asking for the information that falls under HIPAA.
0:58:07
I'm asking for general information that would be useful without without betraying that that privacy.
0:58:17
So yeah, that that I mean, that's that's my question.
0:58:19
How how are you doing this?
0:58:20
Why can't you do scan it another way?
0:58:24
I'm curious to hear what you think, and I'd to sign up for a second round.
Scott French
0:58:29
Certainly.
0:58:30
So first also, meant to say we, as an agency, are committed to working with you on the bill and working through some of the concerns we have to see improve the ways in which we can absolutely make people aware of what they've submitted and where they are in the process.
0:58:45
Right?
0:58:45
That is a goal of ours.
0:58:46
It is a large system and it's an iterative process, but that is definitely a goal of ours even with the concerns we have about the bill.
0:58:53
And, you know, as it as it relates to homebound requests, it sort of depends on each individual request.
0:59:00
Right?
0:59:01
You know, I can get back to you on specifics for, you know, each of the different benefits that we have just because we can we do some different things with different folks.
0:59:11
But hear you on, you know, improving voices
Tiffany Cabán
0:59:13
scan on scene is, again, my question.
Scott French
0:59:15
We could.
0:59:16
I mean, the the mobile app could be utilized on scene by individuals, right, to upload documents in that way.
0:59:25
So that is something that we can do, right, to upload the documents.
0:59:29
Depending on if, you know people can upload the documents not necessarily utilizing an Access HRA account, Right?
0:59:39
So those would need to be connected to an individual's account.
0:59:41
So it's not always going to be connected, but there are ways in home to upload documents.
Tiffany Cabán
0:59:47
And so just based on your testimony that you gave just now, it actually it isn't the case then in your as as you said in your written testimony that it would be impracticable, impossible to provide receipts during for for these home visits?