The Biggest State Tech Project You Haven't Heard Of
Simplify Your Home Care Operations
CareCade helps DDA and HCBS providers manage scheduling, EVV, and billing in one platform.
Right now, Washington State is undertaking one of its largest technology modernization projects in decades. It's called One Washington, and it's moving 36+ state agencies—including DSHS—onto a unified cloud platform powered by Workday.
The go-live window? October 2027 to October 2028, according to the latest announcement from January 2026.
If you're a home care provider in Washington, you might be wondering: does this affect me? The short answer is: not immediately, but it signals where everything is heading.
What Is One Washington?
One Washington is a multi-year initiative led by the Office of Financial Management to modernize how state agencies handle:
- Financial management and reporting
- Human resources and payroll
- Procurement and contracts
- Budget planning
The project replaces systems that are genuinely ancient:
| System | What It Does | How Old |
|---|---|---|
| AFRS | Financial accounting | 1960s COBOL technology |
| TRAINS | Financial transactions | Legacy system |
| HRMS | HR and payroll | Nearly 20 years old |
These aren't just "old" systems—AFRS runs on 1960s-era programming. The state has been planning this modernization since 2013, with implementation kicking off in January 2021. Deloitte is the system integrator, and Gartner provides independent quality assurance.
The scale is significant: these systems currently process $4.3 billion in monthly payments and affect 60,000+ state employees and 35,000+ vendors.
That last number matters: home care providers are state vendors. You contract with DSHS. You're part of that 35,000.
Agencies Included in Phase 1A
According to the One Washington deployment approach, Phase 1A includes agencies that use the Cost Allocation System (CAS):
- Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Health Care Authority (HCA)
- Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
Yes, DSHS—the agency that oversees DDA services, HCBS waivers, and DDCS contracts—is part of this modernization.
A Coordinated, Enterprise-Wide Launch
Unlike some government IT projects that roll out agency-by-agency, One Washington is taking a single, coordinated enterprise go-live approach. All agencies go live together—not on their own schedules. This ensures system stability but also means when it happens, it happens for everyone at once.
The program limits go-live windows to October, April, or July only—deliberately excluding January to avoid year-end processing risks. The current target is October 2027, with flexibility through October 2028.
What This Means for Home Care Providers
What's NOT Changing (Yet)
Let's be clear about what One Washington doesn't immediately affect:
| System | Status |
|---|---|
| ProviderOne (Medicaid billing) | No announced changes |
| DAT file format for claims | Still the same process |
| EVV requirements | Unchanged |
| DSHS reporting requirements | Same compliance rules |
One Washington is primarily about DSHS's internal financial systems—how the agency manages its own budget, payroll, and procurement. It's not directly changing how providers submit claims or interact with ProviderOne.
What COULD Change Over Time
That said, large-scale modernization projects often have ripple effects:
- Future ProviderOne updates - As DSHS modernizes its backend, improvements to provider-facing systems may follow
- Reporting formats - State reporting requirements could evolve as systems become more integrated
- Contract management - One Washington includes procurement modernization. How DSHS manages provider contracts—renewals, amendments, compliance tracking—may become more digital and streamlined
- Data sharing - Better internal systems could eventually mean better data exchange with providers
- Vendor payments - With $4.3 billion in monthly payments flowing through modernized systems, how you get paid could eventually change
The Bigger Picture
One Washington represents a broader trend: government is going digital. Paper-based processes, manual data entry, and legacy systems are being replaced by cloud platforms, automated workflows, and integrated data.
For home care agencies still running on spreadsheets, paper timesheets, or outdated software, this is a signal. The state is modernizing. Are you?
Why Agency Modernization Matters Now
The timing is notable. Consider what's happening in 2026:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 31, 2026 | Medicare telehealth flexibilities expire |
| July 2026 | HCBS compliance deadlines (payment transparency, incident reporting) |
| October 2027 - October 2028 | One Washington Phase 1A go-live window |
| Ongoing | EVV enforcement era, claims validation tightening |
Home care providers face a convergence of compliance requirements, policy changes, and industry shifts—all while the state itself is upgrading its technology.
Agencies that are still:
- Tracking time on paper
- Managing schedules in spreadsheets
- Manually creating billing files
- Storing documents in filing cabinets
...will find it increasingly difficult to keep up.
How CareCade Helps You Stay Ready
At CareCade, we built our platform specifically for Washington home care providers navigating this complex environment. While you can't control when or how state systems change, you can control how prepared your agency is.
Modern Infrastructure for Modern Requirements
| Challenge | How CareCade Helps |
|---|---|
| DAT file exports | One-click ProviderOne-ready billing files with EVV data |
| DSHS compliance | Built-in reporting for Community Engagement, Specialized Hab, and Staff/Family Consultation |
| EVV requirements | GPS-verified clock-in/out with location tracking |
| Documentation | AI-powered session notes that capture what matters |
| Audit readiness | Complete digital trail of services, locations, and times |
Adapting to Change
When state systems do evolve—whether from One Washington or other initiatives—agencies on modern platforms adapt faster. Updates to file formats, new reporting requirements, or changed workflows can be implemented in software, not rebuilt from paper processes.
Peace of Mind
Your job is providing excellent care to clients. Our job is making sure your operations, compliance, and billing run smoothly—no matter what changes come from Olympia.
What to Do Now
- Stay informed - Follow One Washington updates for announcements
- Don't panic - Your current ProviderOne billing process isn't changing tomorrow
- Assess your systems - Are you running on paper, spreadsheets, or modern software?
- Plan for July 2026 - HCBS compliance deadlines are real and approaching
- Consider modernization - If not now, when?
The Bottom Line
One Washington is a reminder that the world is moving forward. State agencies are modernizing. Compliance requirements are tightening. The home care industry is evolving.
The providers who thrive will be those who invest in modern tools, streamlined processes, and systems that adapt to change.
Washington State is upgrading. Maybe it's time your agency did too.
Related Articles
- HCBS Compliance Deadlines: What Providers Need for July 2026
- EVV Claims Validation: The Enforcement Era
- DSHS Restructuring: What HCLA Means for Providers
CareCade is Washington's home care management platform, built for agencies serving individuals with developmental disabilities through DSHS DDCS contracts. Learn more about how we help providers stay compliant and efficient.