Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman

Public Benefit Error Rate Tracker - Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman

​​​​Our office tracks the errors Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) makes when CHFS processes and distributes taxpayer-funded ​​public benefits. We convey these errors within an overall error rate respective to each program. Error rates are updated monthly and are calculated year-to-date.​ All data herein was compiled using federally mandated calculations also implemented and approved by the Beshear Administration for internal error rate tracking at CHFS.​​​​ ​

The total ​year-to-date estimated waste resulting from CHFS's errors is $471 million to $692 million. 

​Program
Program Details
Error Rate (Current Year to Date)Estimated Waste
Medicaid - MAGIThe Medicaid Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) program aids low-income Kentuckians with healthcare coverage.4.29%$200 million to 370 million
Medicaid - LTCThe Medicaid Long-Term Care program helps pay for care for elderly Kentuckians and Kentuckians with disabilities who need extra support.43.24%$148 million to 173 million
SNAPThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals buy food. Cases with Error: 87.3% *Payment Error Rate (PER) of 7.52% $95 million to $113 million *Additional Penalty of ~$60 million if Kentucky's PER remains over 6% but less than 8%. Penalty jumps to ~$120 million at an 8% PER and ~$180 million at 10% PER.
Medicare - MSPThe Medicare Savings Program (MSP) helps low-income people on Medicare pay for healthcare costs like premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance.30.10%$19 million to $23 million
KTAP & KWPThe Kentucky Works Program (KWP) and Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) provide temporary cash aid to low-income families with children. 11.85% for KTAP 3.21% for KWP $7 million to $10 million
CCAPThe Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low-income families pay for childcare. 1.11%$2 million to $3 million