Texas Change Requests 2.0
| Tracking # |
A01242024.0450023 |
| Submitted | Jan. 23, 2024 |
| Est. Completion | None |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Samantha Liss
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Copies of all records referred to by contract number HHS000045800001 as “production support requests” or “PSRs.” Copies of all records referred to by contract HHS000045800001 as “contingency processing methods” or “CPMs” that are in operation now or have been in operation since Jan. 1, 2023.
All communication sent or received by members of HHSC’s Application Support and Knowledge (ASK) team to or from any employees or representatives of Deloitte Consulting between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023. Requested electronic communications include any correspondence that includes the email domain “@deloitte.com,” or any other communications portal or system.
Copies of all invoices received by HHSC from Deloitte for services rendered under contract number HHS000045800001.
Please provide the records as they become available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samantha Liss
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Good afternoon, Samantha.
We have received your request and will process it. I will email you as soon as I have an update.
For your records, the reference number for this request is: A01242024.0450023.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image002.gif@01DA4ECC.6ECE9C20]
[cid:image003.png@01DA4ECC.6ECE9C20]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image004.png@01DA4ECC.6ECE9C20] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image005.png@01DA4ECC.6ECE9C20] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image006.png@01DA4ECC.6ECE9C20] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image007.png@01DA4ECC.6ECE9C20] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Hi Samantha.
We are continuing to process your request. I hope to have an update for you within the next two weeks.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image001.gif@01DA5911.DDBA6F70]
[cid:image002.png@01DA5911.DDBA6F70]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image003.png@01DA5911.DDBA6F70] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image004.png@01DA5911.DDBA6F70] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image005.png@01DA5911.DDBA6F70] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image006.png@01DA5911.DDBA6F70] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Hi Samantha.
We are continuing to process your request. However, we are seeking some clarification.
1. You requested Production Support Requests (PSRs) created from 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2023.
The contract defines PSRs as service requests originating from issues reported by end users required to correct TIERS Suite of Applications data utilizing SQL scripts on the database. Based on this definition, the record count is more than 10,000 records which contain client Personally Identifiable Information/Protected Health Information and must be redacted.
The total estimated time to redact the records is over 500 hours, which would require a cost estimate of over $7,000. You can reduce the amount of review time and cost by narrowing your request.
1. You requested Deloitte invoices for contract HHS000045800001 received from 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2023.
Some invoices may include Deloitte's proprietary financial information which would need to be redacted. Would you be amenable to accepting redactions of Deloitte's proprietary financials? If so, you can review the redacted invoices and decide how you'd like to proceed.
If you choose to move forward without redacting Deloitte's proprietary financials, we would need to send the documents to the Office of Attorney General for a third party ruling, which generally takes 60-business days.
Please let me know how you'd like to proceed.
Please note that this request for clarification extends the 10-business day deadline by 10 more business days, starting the day after we receive your clarification response. Your open records request will be considered withdrawn if we do not receive a clarification response from you within 61 days from the date of this email.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image009.gif@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80]
[cid:image010.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image011.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image012.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image013.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image014.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Good afternoon, Samantha.
We received your phone call to the press line regarding your open records request. Please see the clarification email below that was sent on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image009.gif@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80]
[cid:image010.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image011.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image012.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image013.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image014.png@01DA59E1.9C7E2F80] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
From: Samantha Liss
Hi Jennifer,
I wanted to seek clarification on your response to my request.
First, the search for PSRs yielded more than "10,000 records." Can you please define what constitutes a record in this instance?
Second, if I take you up on your offer to see a redacted Deloitte invoice before deciding how to proceed, will that close this record request?
From: Samantha Liss
Hi,
Just wanted to circle back on my earlier communication.
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Hi Samantha.
I am looking into this for you. I will email you as soon as I have an update.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image001.gif@01DA60EB.6EFD5C50]
[cid:image002.png@01DA60EB.6EFD5C50]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image003.png@01DA60EB.6EFD5C50] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image004.png@01DA60EB.6EFD5C50] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image005.png@01DA60EB.6EFD5C50] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image006.png@01DA60EB.6EFD5C50] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
From: Samantha Liss
Hello,
I wanted to circle back on my earlier communication.
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Hi Samantha.
We are continuing to look into your clarification questions.
Please note, per statutory requirements, a request for clarification extends the 10-business day deadline by 10 more business days, starting the day after we receive your clarification response, which was Feb. 13.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image008.gif@01DA6417.4A144A00]
[cid:image009.png@01DA6417.4A144A00]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image010.png@01DA6417.4A144A00] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image011.png@01DA6417.4A144A00] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image012.png@01DA6417.4A144A00] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image013.png@01DA6417.4A144A00] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Hi Samantha.
1. The definition of a Production Support Request (PSR) was provided in the previous response. The record consists of a report of an end user's service request(s) regarding potential technical issues with the TIERS Suite of Applications.
For your convenience, I've attached an example of a redacted PSR.
1. Viewing a redacted copy does not close the request.
For your convenience, I've attached two example invoices redacted pursuant to Texas Gov't Code § 552.136 (account information)<https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.552.htm#:~:text=Sec.%20552.136.%20%20CONFIDENTIALITY,September%201%2C%202011.> and § 552.104 (proprietary rate information)<https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.552.htm#:~:text=Sec.%20552.104.%20%20EXCEPTION,January%201%2C%202020.>.
Please let me know how you'd like to proceed.
Please note that this request for clarification extends the 10-business day deadline by 10 more business days, starting the day after we receive your clarification response. Your open records request will be considered withdrawn if we do not receive a clarification response from you within 61 days from the date of this email.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image001.gif@01DA663D.FCE894B0]
[cid:image002.png@01DA663D.FCE894B0]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image003.png@01DA663D.FCE894B0] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image004.png@01DA663D.FCE894B0] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image005.png@01DA663D.FCE894B0] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image006.png@01DA663D.FCE894B0] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
From: Samantha Liss
Hello,
I accept redacting Deloitte's proprietary financial information like it shows in the attached examples.
However, based on the information provided here, in no way shape or form can the cost estimate of more than $7,000 be characterized as "reasonable."
KFF Health News is a non-profit news organization that publishes work through our own website and various news organization partners entirely for free. This records request is being made in the public interest as it is essential to the public's understanding of a major government function - the process of determining eligibility for and ultimately furnishing various public benefits for qualifying Texas citizens.
We will consider pursuing other remedies if the department declines to fulfill the request.
From: Health and Human Services Commission
Hi Samantha.
We are processing the Deloitte invoices. Redactions will be made to the documents according to the examples provided on Feb. 23.
As for the PSRs, as explained previously, the cost estimate is based on the number of PSR results (10,181) for the one-year time frame requested and the staff time (15-20 mins) required to review and redact each PSR for personal health information (PHI) made confidential by law (See Texas Medical Privacy Act<https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.181.htm>). The calculation is based on standard prescribed by Texas Attorney General with the Public Information Cost Estimate Model<https://www2.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open/cost_calculator.php>.
Please note that this request for clarification extends the 10-business day deadline by 10 more business days, starting the day after we receive your clarification response. Your open records request will be considered withdrawn if we do not receive a clarification response from you within 61 days from the date of this email.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ruffcorn
HHS Office of Communications
Press Officer
Press Hotline: 512-424-6951
[cid:image008.gif@01DA76D2.0A320170]
[cid:image009.png@01DA76D2.0A320170]<http://www.facebook.com/TexasHHSC/> [cid:image010.png@01DA76D2.0A320170] <http://twitter.com/TexasHHSC> [cid:image011.png@01DA76D2.0A320170] <http://www.instagram.com/texashhsc/> [cid:image012.png@01DA76D2.0A320170] <http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasHHSC> [cid:image013.png@01DA76D2.0A320170] <https://www.facebook.com/txhhscenespanol/> (en español)
Files
pages
There are too many files to display on the request page. See all files .