PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island officials say the development of a new computer system will cost an extra $10 million in the current budget year and nearly $5 million next year.
The Unified Health Infrastructure Project is intended to handle health exchanges and expanded Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act.
The Providence Journal reports that the costs of completing it rose to $380 million after the state recently received an additional $112.8 million in federal funding. The grant requires a state match of 10 percent, or $11.9 million.
Elizabeth Roberts, secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, told lawmakers that because the grant was approved after this year’s budget was adopted, the agency is facing a shortfall.
Roberts says UHIP is expected to create $90 million in annual savings.
