State Policy · VA
Virginia Creates Digital Service to Modernize Benefits Systems After $52M IT Failure
Governor Abigail Spanberger named Andrea Fletcher, former CMS Chief Digital Officer, to lead Virginia's new Digital Service, a technology team charged with modernizing state computer systems and preventing costly contract failures. The initiative follows a $52 million loss on a failed child support enforcement system modernization under the previous administration. The team will help state agencies respond to federal funding and eligibility changes under H.R. 1, with early work focused on maintaining access to Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Fletcher previously led CMS's Digital Service team and established the federal government's first Open Source Program Office.
Why it mattersVirginia's Digital Service will directly oversee technology upgrades to Medicaid eligibility and enrollment systems as the state implements federal reconciliation changes, potentially affecting system performance and beneficiary access during a period of federal policy disruption.