Aging & Disability
Weekly Updates

Week of May 16, 2023

This weekly digest is a new method to communicate updates, initiatives and policy changes from the Aging and Adult Services Division (AASD) and Disability Services Division (DSD) in a simplified way. We will send this announcement every week on Tuesdays. For more information about this digest, refer to the March 10, 2023, eList announcement.

In this edition

Joint AASD/DSD messages

• Updates to MnCHOICES Help Desk Contact Form
• Updates on the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule transition
• Apply for grant initiatives, including retention bonuses and training stipends

Training and events

• Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) trainings available

Joint AASD/DSD messages

Updates to MnCHOICES Help Desk Contact Form

• Audience:?Lead agency staff, service providers and other interested parties
• Effective date:?May 11, 2023
• Summary:?DHS updated the?MnCHOICES Help Desk Contact Form to coincide with the launch of the MnCHOICES revision. Users will continue to use the form to submit issues related to MnCHOICES 1.0, and they also will being using the form to submit issues related to the MnCHOICES revision.

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Updates on the HCBS Settings Rule transition

• Audience:?Waiver service providers, lead agency staff and other interested parties
• Summary: The HCBS Settings Rule transition period ended March 17, 2023, for the Alternative Care program, Brain Injury Waiver, Community Access for Disability Inclusion Waiver, Community Alternative Care Waiver, Developmental Disabilities Waiver and Elderly Waiver.?The statewide transition plan Minnesota implemented to comply with the HCBS Settings Rule has expired. State statutes and federal waiver plans outline all requirements and standards related to HCBS waivers.

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Apply for grant initiatives, including retention bonuses and training stipends

• Audience: HCBS direct care workers, traditional personal care assistance (PCA) workers, service providers, lead agency staff, people who use services and other interested parties
• Summary:?HCBS direct care workers and traditional PCA workers can apply for grant initiatives, including retention bonuses and PCA training stipends. The two initiatives are part of the Legislature-created HCBS grant developed to help attract new direct care workers and keep current employees who provide HCBS services to people with disabilities and older adults.

Training and events

CFSS trainings available

• Audience: People using PCA or the Consumer Support Grant (CSG) and other interested parties
• Summary: DHS created short training videos about CFSS topics. These videos are helpful for people who receive PCA and CSG services, families, lead agency staff and providers.

Other messages

Occasionally, AASD/DSD needs to send more timely messages. We sent the following announcement in the past week:

• May 12, 2023: Temporary extension of COVID-19 modification allowing parents of minors and spouses to provide PCA services (joint AASD/DSD message)

AASD ARCHIVE | DSD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD STAKEHOLDER ARCHIVE

Visit CBSM ? What?s new often for a list of policies/pages we?ve recently updated
in the Community-Based Services Manual.