INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels has apologized for problems caused by the state's attempt to modernize its welfare system, but some say a planned overhaul is too little, too late.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration released details Sunday of what it is calling a "hybrid plan" that will keep the best aspects of the automated system but add more personal contact between caseworkers and clients.

The agency said the changes will improve state oversight of the private portions of the system, keep better tabs on documents submitted by clients and move more workers from call centers to county welfare offices.

But Nanceen Alexander told 6News' Norman Cox on Monday that the overhaul means little to her after she said her husband died after encountering numerous issues with the flawed system.

"It's all pointless when you want to do something for somebody after they're dead and gone," she said.

Alexander said her husband, Ronald, had been on Medicaid, but was kicked off the system when IBM took over its management. She said that he went without treatment for a heart ailment for months as they fought to regain benefits.

Some advocates for the poor, sick and elderly agree with Alexander, and said they're skeptical that the new system will make the process any easier.

"Frankly, no," I don't believe it will get better, said John Cardwell of the Home Care Task Force. "The reason is, the problem is too great, and this is too little, too late."

But others said they are hopeful that restoring some contact between clients and caseworkers will help.

"They will, and there is going to be some more contact here," said Mark St. John of the Indiana Family Service. "I think a question that people should be asking is, are they going to be able to have contact with the person that's making the decision? And that remains to be seen."

Daniels fired Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM as the lead contractor on the $1.34 billion automation project in October after a hail of criticism from clients, lawmakers, federal officials and others over problems that included lost documents, lengthy hold times for the call centers and too many errors in processing of food stamps and Medicaid. IBM's contract expired Monday.

Under the hybrid plan, FSSA will replace IBM as the project leader and take over from a second contractor, Crowe Horwath, which had been responsible for working with social service providers in the private system and resolving clients' problems.

About 1.2 million people receive Medicaid, food stamps and other benefits through the state's welfare program.

The hybrid plan will be introduced in January to 10 of the 59 counties in the southwestern corner of the state surrounding Evansville, Barlow said. Those counties are Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Warrick and Vanderburgh.