As Texas begins what one lawmaker likened to divorce proceedings with Accenture LLP, members of a House panel questioned the state's health and human services chief Thursday on how Texas will avoid a repeat of the same problems.

Following months of reports that Texans had trouble signing up for programs such as food stamps, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, Texas and consulting firm Accenture agreed Tuesday to end the landmark pact for social services enrollment. Both sides said they couldn't agree on financial terms of a revamped version of the deal announced in December.

"This has been a $156 million disaster," Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs and chairman of the panel, told Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins. Rose was referring to the approximate amount the state has paid Accenture for what was originally a five-year, $899 million deal.

Hawkins gave new details on the state's plans for the post-Accenture era, saying the state will decide during the next 60 or so days which tasks will be privatized and which will be done by state employees. State officials decided to rework the deal last year after they realized that Texas had turned too much of the work over to Accenture, Hawkins said.

"As we move forward . . . that mix may change even more," Hawkins said. "We may do all of it through state workers, or there may be some more specific or limited tasks that are done through contract."

Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, grilled Hawkins on how swapping Accenture for other private companies would help.

Lawmakers in 2003 outlined a new eligibility system to give Texans modern ways to sign up for services: by phone and online instead of just in person. The call centers were supposed to save the state money, but have not done so.

"We try to continue to go down a path that I think has historically shown things are wrong with this path," Herrero said. "Yet we insist that if we put someone else as the point person, that somehow that path we're on is going to lead us to something good and better."

Herrero also wanted to know why the state will continue to work — at least on an interim basis — with Accenture subcontractor Maximus.

Hawkins acknowledged problems with Maximus, but added that he is confident that the issues have been worked out.

After Hawkins defended the original contract, Rose said he is frustrated by the agency's view that everything is fine now that Accenture is going away.

"I don't think our contracting quality control is fine, and I don't think it was fine," Rose said. "I don't think, unless we figure out how to wire around the problems we've had the last two years, it will be fine."

Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, told Hawkins he wants to see the commission change its approach to helping low-income Texans get services. He said, "This committee would hope that the attitude and message that's conveyed from here on out with regard to these programs is: Let's help these people, let's make it easier, not harder, for them to enroll and stay enrolled."