This page includes news and resources for providers enrolled to serve Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) members. News articles are retained on the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website for one year. Current messages are linked below. Sign up to receive provider news and other MHCP notices through our free provider email lists.
Systems announcements
We will update this section with information about MN–ITS availability, technical information and other systems announcements when necessary.
Registration is now open for the Community First Services and Support (CFSS) Steps for Success workshop scheduled for September 25-27, 2024. Registration will close seven business days before the workshop at 8 a.m.
For any new provider interested in providing CFSS services, Steps for Success is a three-day workshop offered to owners and managing or supervising staff to meet the CFSS agency provider training requirements for enrolling or maintaining enrollment with Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP).
Hospital staff are invited to learn about effective care for youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis in free webinar-based trainings. The course content has been revised to incorporate attendee feedback, with a focus on post-pandemic behavioral health challenges. Trainings will teach you how to address youth behavioral health and manage challenging behaviors. The Minnesota Department of Human Services has partnered with the Training Institute at People Incorporated to provide live trainings throughout 2024 and 2025 and offer recorded versions for later viewing. Upcoming webinars include the following:
Trauma-informed care – Aug. 6, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Adapt practices, communication, physical spaces, and more to make hospitals less anxiety-inducing and consequently less likely to re-traumatize the children and adolescents receiving care. Go to the Trauma-Informed Care webpage to review the webinar description and register.
Crisis De-escalation – Aug. 28, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Learn this model of intervention to help guide a child experiencing dysregulation. Go to the Crisis De-escalation webpage to review the webinar description and to register.
We have revised this message to address the issue of some providers receiving a letter without information regarding their setting.
The Disability Services Division (DSD) of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is preparing to publish a list of all enrolled customized living (CL) settings with an active license that deliver CL services to members on Brain Injury (BI) or Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waivers. This list will be a tool to assist case managers and lead agencies in determining the specific limitations that apply to each CL setting to ensure they are providing accurate information to members when identifying CL settings a member can move into. The list will be published quarterly in the Community Based Services Manual.
On July 9, 2024, DSD sent out a letter to CL providers’ MNITS mailboxes that was missing the information regarding their setting. We are working on a resolution and will update this webpage when we send the new letter. DSD will send each CL provider a letter to their MNITS mailbox which will include information for their setting. The letter will include a link to a survey for providers to verify if all the setting information in the letter is correct. DSD asks providers to identify any errors or incorrect information about the setting information in the survey. The survey will be available from July 8 through Aug. 16, 2024.
Submit questions about this process using the online DSD Contact Form. (pub. 6/25/24) (rev. 7/12/24)
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) levels of care become effective in state law on Jan. 1, 2025. Enrolled Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) nonresidential (outpatient) SUD providers must certify their ASAM level of care by Jan. 1, 2025, under Minnesota Statutes, 256B.0759, subdivision 2. Your program will be ineligible for payment for services provided under MHCP if you do not certify your levels of care by Jan. 1, 2025.
SUD nonresidential (outpatient) facilities must have the 245G.20 designation for serving people with co-occurring disorders. Contact your Minnesota Department of Human Services licensor or email SUD licensing at dhs.mhcdlicensing@state.mn.us if you do not currently hold this designation.
You may get help with the certification process from the following:
Behavioral Health Division (BHD) virtual office hours, which are offered every Thursday from 2 - 3 p.m. and answer specific questions. Refer to the “News” tab on the 1115 SUD System Reform Demonstration webpage. You may also email 1115demonstration.dhs@state.mn.us to schedule a Webex meeting outside of virtual office hours.
Pharmacy services providers bill the MCO as the primary payer and MCHP fee for service as the secondary payer for cost sharing when members have coverage through MA and a prepaid health plan coverage with an MCO. Use the following instructions to submit a claim to MHCP.
Enter in the coordination of benefit on the claim.
Submit the claim and note that the claim will deny.
Call the MHCP Provider Resource Center at 651-431-2700 or 800-366-5411 to create a case. The case will be sent to the claims unit and the claim will be reprocessed.
We will contact the pharmacy services provider with payment information after the claim is reprocessed.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services Housing Stabilization Services team is hosting a webinar series beginning in July through October 2024. Webinars are scheduled for the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 10:30 a.m. - noon. The purpose of the webinars is to enhance providers’ effectiveness and deepen their understanding of the Housing Stabilization Services program. You can stay updated on best practices and policies by attending these webinars. Refer to the Webinar series for providers Housing Stabilization Services e-memo for registration and other information. Email dhshousingstabilization@state.mn.us if you have questions about this message. (pub. 7/9/24)
MHCP wants to collect feedback from enrolled providers and requests providers take the MHCP Provider Survey by July 29, 2024.
You are key partners in the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (DHS) mission to help people meet their basic needs so they can live in dignity and achieve their highest potential. We want to hear directly from you about what works well, what needs improvement, and what else we should be considering when we work with you to accomplish our shared goals. The survey asks for your thoughts on the usefulness of the systems and channels we use to communicate specifically with providers (DHS website, MHCP Provider Manual, MHCP Provider Resource Center, MN–ITS, and more).
We plan to use the data to set a baseline and conduct surveys regularly to measure our progress over time. Your feedback could inform changes to our current systems and processes, help us consider additional tools and tactics we have not used, and potentially scale back on efforts that are less effective. (pub. 7/8/24)
Minnesota Department of Human Services will begin enforcing EVV compliance effective Sept. 1, 2024, for all providers who provide services that require the use of EVV. We will start reviewing all providers' EVV usage on Sept. 1, 2024.
If you provide services that require the use of Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) and have not yet enrolled with HHAeXchange (HHAX), you must enroll now. You must enroll even if you are using a third-party EVV system. Contact HHAX through the HHAX Client Support Portal if you have questions about enrolling or connecting third-party EVV systems.
We sent a memo to providers’ MN–ITS mailboxes July 1, 2024, which included information for EVV enrollment and compliance. Refer to the Electronic visit verification webpage for more information about EVV. Refer to the Electronic visit verification compliance policy webpage for more information about EVV compliance. (pub. 7/2/24)
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) translated the personal care assistance and community first services and supports (PCA/CFSS) worker training and test into Spanish and Russian. This test is now available in five languages. Refer to the Spanish and Russian translations of the PCA/CFSS worker training and test AASD and DSD eList announcement for more information. (pub. 6/25/24)
Minnesota Department of Human Services updated billing parameters for the CMDE service code 97151 used for Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) services. You may bill up to 80 units for CMDE services per calendar year using code 97151 effective Jan. 1, 2022.
Refer to the EIDBI Billing Grid for more information. Call the Minnesota Health Care Programs Provider Resource Center at 651-431-2700 or 800-366-5411 if you have questions about this message. (pub. 6/21/24)
The University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Human Services and other state agencies are working together to gather feedback and data on the following services:
The feedback and data from the study will be used to develop legislative proposals to improve service design and quality. You may offer feedback in the following ways:
Please help people you support who currently or might one day use any of these services complete the survey and provide feedback. Other stakeholders, such as family members, case managers, emergency responders, or school personnel, are encouraged to offer feedback. Refer to the Intervention and respite service redesign webpage for more information. The deadline to give feedback is July 31, 2024. (pub. 6/18/24, rev. 6/20/24)
Effective June 21, 2024, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will no longer operate the job board feature on the Direct Support Connect website and users will be unable to access existing accounts or create new accounts.
We have emailed people with accounts about this change. Additionally, we request that lead agencies and providers no longer promote the job board feature.
Note, the Direct Support Connect website will remain available with basic resource information after June 21. DHS is exploring other options to support direct support workers and the people who hire them. We will send an eList when more information is available.
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) has reprocessed all previously denied dental services claims impacted by the 2024 dental benefits changes. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, MHCP dental benefits have no age or pregnancy status as qualifiers.
Claims that denied for service not covered in the limited benefit set were reprocessed and appeared on the April 23, 2024, remittance advice.
Claims that denied for benefit limits exhausted in the limited benefit set were reprocessed and appeared on the May 21, 2024, remittance advice.
Call the MHCP Provider Resource Center at 651-431-2700 or 800-366-5411 with questions about this message. (pub. 6/5/24)
We revised this message to clarify Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers are not eligible to receive the 3 percent rate increase. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is aware that the 3 percent rate increase approved for certain fee-for-service mental health services is causing some claims to be incorrectly reimbursed for the following providers.
Indian health services, federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics providers: These providers should not receive the 3 percent increase because they are reimbursed an encounter rate.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHC): These providers should not receive the 3 percent rate increase because they are reimbursed a CCBHC daily bundled rate, known as the Prospective Payment System rate (PPS).
Mental health services providers: Reimbursement rates for some fee-for-service mental health services increased by 3 percent effective Jan. 1, 2024, but should not have been included in the increase.
DHS implemented the 3 percent rate increase on the April 9, 2024, warrant and this resulted in some claims to be incorrectly reimbursed. We will review claims from previous warrants and correct any payment errors.
We will post a future Provider News message on this webpage when the system change is corrected and claims are reimbursed at the correct rate. (pub. 5/16/24, rev. 6/20/24)
NEMT services providers cannot bill MHCP for Mode 3 – Unassisted transport (curb-to-curb) and Mode 4 – Assisted transport (door-to-door and door-through-door) services; and must contract with one of the following organizations for billing and reimbursement.
Medical Transportation Management – Minnesota Nonemergency Transportation (MTM-MNET)
SmartLink
Local county or tribal agency
MTM-MNET, SmartLink or the local county or tribal agency bills MHCP for Modes 3 and 4 services and reimburses the NEMT services provider. Refer to Overview under Local County or Tribal Agency NEMT Services in the MHCP Provider Manual for contact information. (pub. 4/24/24)
The Minnesota Department of Human Services offers quarterly webinar sessions to providers required to use EVV. The webinar sessions cover updates, resources, and Q&A. The sessions are scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. on the following dates:
Due to new legislative updates and revalidations, the MHCP Provider Resource Center is experiencing high call volume. You may experience a longer wait time or you will have to call back at a different time.
We explained on Sept. 27 on this webpage that the temporary waiver allowing personal care assistance (PCA) agencies to hire certain family members to be paid to provide PCA services ended Nov. 11, 2023. This is a reminder this temporary waiver ended Nov. 11, 2023.
The family members that the waiver allowed to be paid for providing PCA services were:
Parents of minors
Stepparents of minors
Legal guardians of minors
Spouses
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) previously announced an extension of the end date for this waiver in a May 12, 2023, eList.
Effective Nov. 12, 2023, Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) or a person’s managed care organization (MCO) cannot pay PCA agencies for claims with dates of service provided after Nov. 11, 2023, by these family members.
People and families should work together with their PCA agency to develop an alternative plan for providing PCA services. They can contact their lead agency (county, tribal government, or managed care organization) for additional support if they continue to struggle with staffing.
Contact the MHCP Provider Resource Center at 651-431-2700 or 800-366-5411 or use the Disability Services Division Contact Form to submit an inquiry with questions. (pub. 9/27/23 and 10/24/23, rev. 12/5/23)
Minnesota Department of Human Services refreshed the Renew My Coverage webpage and will launch new tools in the coming weeks to make it easier for Minnesotans to keep their health insurance now that annual member eligibility renewals have resumed in public health care programs. Please share this information with the members you serve.
Members should look for:
A new envelope design to help renewal paperwork stand out better in mailboxes. Envelopes are now marked with a blue circle with the text “Important information enclosed.”
A new document upload tool that allows members to skip the postage and upload their annual eligibility renewal documents online. Enrollees can also submit renewal paperwork by postal mail, dropping it off at their county or tribal office, fax or by giving their information verbally over the phone.
Members will soon be able to:
Use a new renewal date lookup tool to find out when to watch their mail for renewal information.
Receive text messages from the number “28343” when it’s time to fill out and submit their renewal paperwork.
We are committed to ensuring that eligible Minnesotans retain their public coverage when renewal processes resume as required by Congressional legislation that states to return to standard Medicaid eligibility procedures. On the Renew my coverage webpage, we have created a one-stop shop for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare members with all the information they need about how to keep their insurance.
The most important thing enrollees can do now to prepare for their renewal is to Update their contact information. Members who have moved in the last three years should update their address, phone number and email, so they can be reached.
Renewal information will be mailed to members in monthly waves or “cohorts” each month for the next 12 months. The first group of Minnesotans due for their renewal paperwork will get their renewal information mailed within the next few weeks. (pub. 4/27/23)
Training
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) offers free training for MHCP enrolled providers.
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) will host free online trainings for doula organizations and individual providers wanting to enroll with MHCP. You will learn about the MHCP provider enrollment manual and view a live demonstration of the enrollment process in the Minnesota Provider Screening and Enrollment (MPSE) portal.
Participants need the following to attend the webinar:
Ability to connect to the webinar from their own computers. You do not need special hardware or software. We recommend not using a phone or tablet.
Ability to communicate with presenters using the chat feature available as part of the webinar session.
Internet access.
Speakers or a headset.
Register for the doula provider enrollment MPSE live demonstration on the MPSE portal training webpage.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services will be offering weekly questions and answers sessions for the MPSE Portal. Questions and answers sessions take place every Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. starting on Feb. 7, 2024. These sessions are free and no registration is required.
MPSE questions and answers sessions will be held virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform, but attendees do not need to have Microsoft Teams installed. Participants can use the browser version. Find the link to join the questions and answers session on the MPSE portal training webpage.
Who should attend?
Owners of MHCP-enrolled organizations.
Individual providers who maintain their own MHCP enrollment records.
Employees of MHCP-enrolled organizations who maintain provider enrollment records.
Employees of MHCP-enrolled organizations who process affiliations or do credentialing.
Employees of MHCP-enrolled organizations responsible for MHCP compliance.
Individuals or organizations interested in becoming an MHCP provider for the first time.
Anyone interested in learning more about the MPSE portal.
MHCP offers training for providers who provide services for members enrolled in MHCP. We have updated on-demand and online training opportunities on the MHCP provider training webpage.
On-demand videos
On-demand videos are arranged by category, including Minnesota Provider Screening and Enrollment Portal (MPSE), MN–ITS and Billing. Each video can be viewed in 10 minutes or less and provides instructions on a concept or technique.
Online training
Online training is arranged by content for all providers or specific providers. Training is led by an instructor who will help attendees navigate the Minnesota Department of Human Services website and locate and use MHCP provider information and other related webpages or internet-based applications such as MN–ITS. All instructor-led training is online only. (pub. 11/22/22)
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) offers free online training for MHCP-enrolled providers. Go to the MHCP provider training webpage to review the list of available training.
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) is offering free online Provider Basics Resources and MN–ITS training to all enrolled MHCP providers who bill fee-for-services claims. This training is being offered monthly beginning Mar. 10, 2021.
You will learn how to navigate the MHCP provider webpages and the MHCP provider manual, and how to use MN–ITS administration, mailbox and eligibility requests (270/271) features. Go to the Provider Basics webpage to register for this training.
Claim training is not provided in this training. Refer to the MHCP provider training webpage to register for provider-specific claim training. (pub. 2/11/21)
Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) offers free on-demand training videos arranged by category on the MHCP provider training webpage. Each video can be viewed in about 10 minutes and provides instructions on a concept or technique.
Minnesota Health Care Programs is providing free online training for our MPSE online portal.
Visit the MPSE portal training webpage for registration, brief online tutorials to help prepare you for class and more information. (pub. 2/1/20, rev. 2/19/20, 7/27/22)
