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What is CMIPS?

The Case Management, Information and Payrolling System (CMIPS) is an information computer system in California that tracks nearly 400,000 cases statewide. The system processes over $4 billion in annual payments for services provided to elderly, disabled, or blind individuals so that they can remain in their own homes under the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Programs which are administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

What is the CMIPS II Project?

CMIPS II is a project to award and administer a contract to develop, operate, and maintain a follow-on system to the current CMIPS system. This acquisition project is being managed for CDSS by the Office of Systems Integration.

CMIPS History and Overview

CMIPS is a 25-year-old computer system that tracks case information and processes payments for the IHSS Programs, which include:

  • Personal Care Services Program (PCSP)
  • IHSS Plus Waiver Program (IPW)
  • IHSS Residual (IHSS-R) Program
  • Medi-Cal Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) Program

The PCSP, IPW, and IHSS-R IHSS programs are administered at the county level by county welfare departments and at the State level by the Adult Programs Division within CDSS. The Medi-Cal Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) Program is administered through Department of Health Care Services. A portion of the costs for IHSS services are paid by federal funding through the Social Security Act Title XIX, Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs, Section 1929.

Under the IHSS programs, qualified aged, blind, and disabled individuals hire providers to come to their homes and help with personal care, housekeeping, shopping, self-care procedures, meal preparation, and other daily activities. In most cases, the IHSS recipient is the employer of the provider and, as such, manages their activities. The State provides payroll services to pay the providers' wages. Twice monthly, the recipient or provider mails a time sheet to their county welfare office where the hours worked are input into CMIPS, a state-wide computer application and database. CMIPS calculates pay and taxes and sends the information to the State Controller's Office, which prints and mails the paychecks to the providers.

County welfare offices throughout California are responsible for determining recipients IHSS eligibility and service needs, and managing each case. A county social worker initially assesses an individual in their home to determine level of support required. If requested, the county or the county’s Public Authority can also help the recipient find a provider, but in many cases, family members provide the support services. Once a provider is identified, the information about the provider is entered into CMIPS for subsequent payroll processing. Every recipient must be re-assessed annually to ensure they continue to have the proper level of support.

All the case information associated with the recipients, providers, and assessments is maintained in CMIPS. CDSS is contracting with private industry to develop, operate, and maintain CMIPS. To assure the best value to the State, the Department of General Services limits contract durations and requires a competitive procurement be conducted for follow-on contracts. The Office of System Integration conducted the competitive procurement and will oversee a contract for a follow-on system, CMIPS II. The contract with the current vendor will continue until the new contract is in place and the CMIPS II system is fully operational.