The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) unveiled a “Draft for discussion only” proposal on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 that would SIGNIFICANTLY reduce the choice of providers available to people in various publicly funded programs, including the Elderly, CADI, DD and TBI Waivers.  The context of the release was a meeting scheduled under the guise of “Discussion Forum on Residential Settings for Home and Community Based Settings.”  Rather than a discussion on follow-up steps from themes emerging from a prior summit, or discussion on the Housing Options report due to the Legislature on December 15th, the focus of the meeting was a reaction to a rather startling proposal that we have delineated below.  Clearly the responses from the attendees, including Phil Manz and Patti Cullen from the Association, reflected the outrage at the content, process, and implications of the proposal.  The proposal set out definitions of institution, residential setting and housing, with specific exclusions to those definitions tied to specific size and location of settings that, in essence, limit where the state will pay for home and community-based services in the future.

The Association is reviewing its options for responding to this outrageous proposal that sets up additional artificial barriers to service access, and decreases the flexibility for service provision at a time when increased flexibility is what is needed.  Care Providers of Minnesota will seek to clarify the confusing portions of the proposals and will make DHS's December 15 report to the legislature available as soon as possible.  The Legislative Action Team of the Housing and Community-Based Services Cabinet will be meeting on December 16 to discuss this proposal.  Clearly the release of this proposal calls into question the investment of Association staff and member time and energy on all of the task forces, surveys, focus groups over the past months.  This proposal, which reflects none of our comments or constructive input, makes these past investments seem like an incredible waste of time!

Briefly, the following provider establishments would be EXCLUDED as choices for participants under the various waivers:
Elderly Waiver:  Providers with a capacity of more than 16 residents that require the purchase of services or meals as part of a “base rate” as a condition of tenancy.
Elderly, CAC, CADI, DD and TBI Waivers:  Providers attached to or on the adjoining property of a nursing facility, hospital or ICF/MR (this “may be different” for the elderly waiver); providers that are attached to an adjoining property if controlled by the same provider; converted nursing facilities, “under certain conditions” (meaning there was no renovation of the physical plant); and any housing provider that does not provide an individual unit that includes living, sleeping, bathing and cooking areas over which the individual or individual’s family has control.

To review the complete one-page draft proposal, click HERE.

Members are encouraged to express their concerns with this proposal directly to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Assistant Commissioner of Continuing Care, Loren Colman at loren.colman@state.mn.us.

Phil Manz
952.851.2484
pmanz@careproviders.org

Patti Cullen, CAE
952.851.2487
pcullen@careproviders.org

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