Creating a Unified National Accuracy Clearinghouse(NAC): Immediate Savings, Proven Solutions
The Challenge: Fragmented Verification Systems Cost Taxpayers Billions
Fragmented eligibility verification systems across Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, UI, Child Care, and SSI/SSDI programs result in billions of taxpayer dollars lost annually due to duplicate enrollments and preventable fraud. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing a National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC) for SNAP alone could save $6.5–7 billion over ten years. Extending NAC across Medicaid and additional programs would multiply these savings significantly, potentially capturing another $10–12 billion over a decade for Medicaid alone (CBO preliminary estimate 2025).
Every day of continued fragmentation costs taxpayers millions, undermines public trust, and reduces resources available to genuinely eligible individuals.
The Proven Solution: A Single, Unified NAC
A unified NAC offers immediate savings and aligns directly with federal objectives around technology modernization, transparency, and efficient governance. Multi-state pilots have demonstrated NAC's effectiveness and immediate readiness for integration across existing agency infrastructures:
Prevent Duplicate Enrollments Immediately: Real-time eligibility verification replaces costly "pay-and-chase" recovery methods.
Eliminate Redundant Systems: Streamline and consolidate multiple verification platforms, reducing costs and bureaucratic complexity.
Accelerate Benefit Delivery: Simplify administrative processes, significantly speeding up benefit distribution to those genuinely eligible.
Proven Impact: Immediate and Lasting Savings
Between 2013 and 2015, a NAC pilot involving Mississippi, Alabama, and three other southeastern states achieved up to an 81% reduction in duplicate SNAP enrollments, rapidly clearing eligibility backlogs. Illinois Medicaid successfully implemented advanced eligibility verification, achieving annual taxpayer savings exceeding $200 million with a demonstrated return on investment of 10-to-1.
Immediate Executive Action Recommended
To realize immediate taxpayer savings, federal leadership should:
Issue an Executive Order mandating the immediate consolidation of existing federal verification systems into a single, unified NAC.
Facilitate Consistent Data Integration across federal and state programs to immediately halt duplicative spending and fraud.
Streamline Administration to ensure benefits swiftly and accurately reach eligible recipients.
Conclusion: Immediate Action Means Immediate Savings
Implementing a unified NAC is not just prudent fiscal policy—it's an immediate opportunity for significant, proven savings. Delay continues unnecessary expenditures. Immediate action delivers tangible accountability, protects taxpayer resources, and restores public trust.