Currently, the Office of Information Services (OIS) is involved in various maintenance projects. In addition, OIS is involved in numerous initiatives to improve current applications and support development of new services. Below is a brief description of some of the projects or initiatives underway.

OIS Support to Users
OIS supports 24,000 plus networked users through developing, building, procuring and maintaining a wide array of IT applications. OIS Production and Operations combines several supportive functions for each of the areas within OIS to supply the constant need for customer service, support, and maintenance of operations.  This OIS area is responsible for the day-to-day production environment. Production and Operations provides end user desktop and network management and customer service support for all ODJFS networked offices and agencies. In order to minimize downtime and provide the performance necessary to support over 250 distributed applications and services.

Client Registry Information System Enhanced (CRIS-E)
CRIS-E is an automated system used by over 15,000 caseworkers and administrators in support of the state and Federal programs for Ohio Works First (OWF); Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC); Food Assistance(FA); and Medicaid benefits to eligible Ohio recipients. Core operations in support of these users include application intake, eligibility determination, and issuance of benefits to clients.
 
eGateway
In December, 2008 ODJFS launched the eGateway web portal for the receipt of applications for Ohio Works First, Food Assistance, DFA and Medicaid electronically from external sources (currently the Ohio Benefit Bank). This system stages the electronic applications for lading into the CRIS-E system. e-Gateway has greatly increased the outreach potential for consumers and moves ODJFS forward in Internet technology. This new web portal assists county workers in data entry by allowing the data to be copied with the click of one button instead of entering all the data into the CRIS-E system manually. 

Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS)
The primary function of MMIS is to process Medicaid and County Disability Claims. It provides reimbursements to medical providers for services rendered to eligible recipients based on ODJFS and Federal government policy. In addition to the MMIS application, smaller systems residing under this umbrella provide automated system processing to support long term care administration and nursing home processing.

Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)
SACWIS is designed to automate and coordinate the information that supports the protection of children and families that are vulnerable to abuse, neglect, dependency, and exploitation. SACWIS is deployed in all 88 Ohio county public children service agencies (PCSAs). SACWIS is a comprehensive Case Management System that assists county staff in managing their workloads and provides accurate and current data to assist in decision-making and program modification. SACWIS contains eight major functional areas: intake management, case management, court processing, administration, eligibility, resource management, financial management, and interfaces with ODJFS' legacy systems - SETS, CRIS-E and MMIS.
 
Support Enforcement Tracking System (SETS)
SETS is an automated system that assists in locating absent parents, as well as establishing, enforcing, tracking and reporting child support cases. The system allows for one stop processing of all court ordered child support payments. SETS ensures every child's right to financial support from both parents and assists Ohio in providing and enabling its children to a better life.

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
Ohio EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is the electronic distribution of food assistance benefits. Benefits are accessed with the Ohio Direction Card. The Ohio Direction Card is similar to commercial debit and ATM cards. Most Ohio grocery stores accept the Ohio Direction Card.

Ohio Job Insurance (OJI)
OJI administers unemployment compensation benefits. This administration includes: accepting and processing unemployment claims, maintaining employer records, determining monetary and non-monetary eligibility, requesting separation information, issuing determinations, charging employers, charging the mutual account, processing appeals and issuing re-determinations. It is viewed as one of the best Unemployment Systems nationwide.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Federal legislation (HIPAA) mandates that health insurers develop the capability to receive claims from providers by employing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technology. OIS has upgraded Ohio's existing Medicaid system (MMIS) to be compliant with HIPAA.

Sharing Career Opportunities & Training Information (SCOTI)
SCOTI system consolidates all of the support activities of the Workforce Investment Act and the Wagner-Peyser Act into one homogeneous system for use throughout the state. It is a key system in the implementation of the "One Stop" service centers allowing integrated case management of the applicant for Workforce Investment and Wagner-Peyser Act benefits. These programs allow employers and job seekers to be matched together for employment opportunities.

Ohio Means Jobs (OMJ)
ODJFS officially deployed Ohio Means Jobs (OMJ) in October, 2008. This web-based service provides an employer-driven job matching system which provides access to a vast resource of job postings and resumes in one location.  Ohio employers and job seekers now have an easy way to find each other. Through OhioMeansJobs.com, employers can create accounts to post jobs, access millions of job seeker's resumes posted and hold recruitment events. Employers can also sort resumes based on a variety of filters, including job skills, education, location and salary requirements.  Employers are also able to access the Ohio Business Gateway and electronically submit certain required filings, registration and payments. Job Seekers can access job openings from over 8,000 job boards and employer sites, post resumes and participate in recruitment events. Job searches can also be filtered by field, title, location and salary requirements.  

Employer Resource Information Center (ERIC)
ERIC is the web based application currently being developed to replace the current unemployment tax delivery, reporting and accounting system. It will improve business processes within the Bureau of UC Tax and enable customer-driven methods of service by providing employers and third party administrators the ability to do business with the Office of Unemployment Compensation (e.g., registration, reporting, account maintenance, etc.) through the Internet. The result will be increased services to customers and a more efficient means for staff to deliver those services.

Medicaid Information Technology System (MITS)
Ohio's Medicaid Information Technology System (MITS) is first and foremost a strategic project to transform human capital, business processes and health information technology so that Ohio Medicaid is positioned to respond to current and emerging business demands in the heath care marketplace. MITS will replace a 20-year-old legacy claims processing and payment system and associated business processes with a business-driven solution. This solution will involve re-engineered business processes, organizational change, and implementation of state-of-the-art technology, all focused on providing tools that facilitate timely and accurate claims processing and that efficiently and effectively assist ODJFS with the administration of the Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) and DMA healthcare programs.

Last Updated: