ACS, Illinois ink electronic payments deal

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced a five-year deal with Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. today to use the company’s electronic payment card solution for assistance benefits like the state’s Child Care Assistance Program.

ACS’ electronic payment card (EPC) is a reloadable MasterCard debit card accepted by retailers and ATMs nationwide and will be offered as an alternative to paper check payment for service providers and personal assistants to people with disabilities.

“Our goal with the debit cards is to expedite the delivery of monthly payments to licensed and licensed-exempt child care providers and bi-monthly payments to personal assistants,” Grace Hou, IDHS assistant secretary, said in a statement. “This process will heighten security associated with transactions, and provide easier and less costly access to funds for those who may not have checking accounts.”

According to ACS, their EPC programs are used in twenty-four state and federal agencies, serving four million cardholders who receive assistance benefits from the government. This contract will broaden ACS’ service offerings by including child care providers and personal assistants.

“We anticipate that this project will become a model for other states,” Joseph Doherty, executive vice president and group president of ACS Government Solutions Group, said in a statement.

Along with child support, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), unemployment insurance, disability and state employee payroll services, ACS also processes nearly 570 million Medicaid claims, totaling more than $50 billion in provider payments per year.

“ACS’ agreement with the State of Illinois demonstrates the flexibility of our electronic payment card solution and how we can help government agencies with innovative and creative solutions,” Mr. Doherty said.

The financial terms of the deal were not revealed.

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