MnCHOICES

MnCHOICES is a computer application used by counties, tribal nations and managed care organizations (MCOs) to support their assessment and support planning work for Minnesotans who need long-term services and supports (LTSS), regardless of age, type of disability or service needs.

Agency staff, including certified assessors, care coordinators and case managers, who work with people of any age with a disability or anyone in need of long-term services and supports use MnCHOICES to discuss their preferences and the supports they need to live a good life.

Background
MnCHOICES assessments
Health risk assessments
Support plans
More information

To improve the state's long-term services and supports assessment and support planning process, DHS worked with FEI Systems to develop the MnCHOICES computer application. The application:
- Eliminates the need for multiple assessments to receive needed supports and services.
- Helps you choose how you want to live, learn, work and play through the assessment and support-planning process.
- Ensures consistency and equal access to services and supports statewide.
In addition, DHS developed a best practice partnership with MNIT, counties, tribal nations and MCOs. Key features of this work include:
- The MnCHOICES Input Group and Systems Governance groups to provide dialogue and guidance about the launch and prioritization of release fixes and enhancements.
- A phased launch that included benchmark expectations of lead agencies and system deliverables that had to be met to move to the next phase.
- Methods to review, prioritize and rank changes to the system that included all interested parties.
DHS will continue to improve MnCHOICES over time.
Certified assessors use the MnCHOICES assessment to determine program and service eligibility for people. A certified assessor meets with a person to gather information about their needs. A MnCHOICES assessment includes key elements managed care organizations need to complete a full health risk assessment. After the assessment is complete, the certified assessor reviews a summary of the assessment and provides referrals, resources and next steps.

Brochure
Video
- English: MnCHOICES assessment: How to get help, English – A’Tlieana. Note: For captioned video, go to Audio descriptions: MnCHOICES assessment: How to get help, English – A’Tlieana.
- English: MnCHOICES assessment: How to get help, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, English – Ellen . Note: For captioned video, go to Audio descriptions: MnCHOICES assessment: How to get help, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, English – Ellen.
- Somali: Sidee U helaa cawinaad: Qiimaynta XULASHADDA MN (MnCHOICES assessment), Somali – Fathia . Note: For captioned video, go to Audio descriptions: Sidee U helaa cawinaad: Qiimaynta XULASHADDA MN (MnCHOICES assessment), Somali – Fathia.
- Hmong: Yuav Tau Txais Kev Pab Li Cas: Kev soj ntsuam MnCHOICES assessment, Hmong – Mee . Note: For captioned video, go to Audio descriptions: Yuav Tau Txais Kev Pab Li Cas: Kev soj ntsuam MnCHOICES assessment, Hmong – Mee.
MCO care coordinators use the MnCHOICES health risk assessment (HRA) to:
- Capture health care needs, health status and health risk factors.
- Gather information about a person’s needs in their daily life, both activities of daily living, or ADLs, and instrumental activities of daily living, also referred to as IADLs.
Care coordinators may not use an HRA to determine eligibility for waiver programs, Community First Services and Supports or Housing Stabilization Services. The HRA does include items that may be used to refer the person for these programs and services.
The support plan reflects decisions made after an informed decision-making process between people and their case managers. The support plan also states key contact information, emergency backup planning, grievance information, types and frequency of supports formal and informal.
Support plans in the MnCHOICES application
- Support plan associated with a MnCHOICES assessment: If the person receives publicly funded services, the worker develops a person-centered support plan with the person to deliver services based on the person’s needs and preferences to support their life in their community.
- Support plan associated with a MnCHOICES assessment with a Staying Healthy section: The care coordinator works with the person to develop a plan to deliver long-term care and health care services based on the person’s needs and preferences. It also ensures the services provided by managed care are incorporated into a person’s plan, provides the person with key information they can refer back to about the types and frequency of support from their care coordinator and when they should contact their care coordinator.
- Support plan associated with a health risk assessment: The care coordinator works with the person to develop a plan to deliver health care services designed to meet the needs and preferences of the person and to support the person to live as independently as possible. The care coordinator also ensures the services provided by managed care are incorporated into a person’s plan, provides the person with key information they can refer to about the types and frequency of support from their care coordinator and when they should contact their care coordinator.
eList announcements

News about the status of MnCHOICES is coordinated through the Aging and Adult Services Division and the Disability Services Division eLists, as well as the MnCHOICES eList.

View past updates:
- Community supports for seniors email archive
- DSD lead agency email archive
Subscribe to an eList on the DHS Email subscriptions page.

Employees and contractors for lead agencies (counties, tribal nations and managed-care organizations) may sign up for email updates related to the MnCHOICES application, including the MnCHOICES Matters electronic newsletter, memos, system statuses, etc. To sign up for the MnCHOICES eList, fill out this online form.

On the web