Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver and Alternative Care Provider Training 101

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver and Alternative Care (AC) Programs Provider Training 101 is for employees of organizations or agencies who want to enroll with Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) to provide services to people who receive services through an HCBS waiver or the AC program or for other interested people.

People who take the training can learn basic information about MHCP and the HCBS waiver and AC program operations, policies and requirements. This training is through our online learning center, TrainLink, where you can take the course on your own time.

Introduction and training requirements
This training will provide the following information:
- Training requirement information – MHCP requires this training before enrolling a new provider to provide services through an HCBS waiver or the AC program. You will need to take the quiz in the course, then print and submit with your enrollment application a copy of the screen that shows you passed the course.
- Links to other resources throughout the training
- How to navigate the MHCP website for provider information
Training modules and learning objectives
Module 1: The Road to Home and Community-Based Services in Minnesota

People taking training will:
- Be able to describe differences between institutional and community-based living
- Increase their understanding of the disability rights movement
- Be able to describe the differences between fee-for-service and managed care
- Be able to describe the differences between Medicare and Medicaid
Module 2: Supporting People with Home and Community-Based Services

People taking training will:
- Learn about the vision of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Disability Services Division and Aging and Adult Services Division
- Learn the importance of a person-centered foundation in supporting people in the home and community
- Learn about the various HCBS waiver programs, definitions and options
- Learn about the federal requirements regarding service development and service standards
- Become familiar with services provided under Minnesota’s HCBS waiver
- Learn Minnesota’s standards that providers must meet or exceed to be qualified to provide waiver services
- Learn how to navigate through the MHCP webpages for more information about waiver programs, definitions and standards
- Learn how to navigate through the DHS licensing webpages for information about licensing requirements
Module 3: Roles and Responsibilities

People in the training will learn the roles and responsibilities of:
- The federal government
- The state
- Counties and tribes
- Managed care organizations
- Case managers and care coordinators
- Providers
- The service participant and legal representatives
- Decision-making as it relates to guardianship
Module 4: Becoming an HCBS Waiver Provider

People will learn about:
- The process required to become a waiver and AC service provider
- The county and tribe contracting process
- Required documents that must be submitted as part of the enrollment process
- General processes related to service authorizations
- General processes related to rates and billing
Module 5: Participant Safeguards

People will learn about:
- The types of protections that state and federal regulations support
- How safeguards for people receiving HCBS services are addressed in the design of waiver programs
- Their role in mandatory reporting of abuse and neglect
- Roles of federal, state and local entities that protect service participants
- Their role in crisis intervention and behavior management
- Different rights of people with disabilities
- State and federal data privacy laws
- Role of the ombudsman’s offices that protect people who receive waiver or AC services
- Role of the service provider in the protection of people receiving services
Module 6: Business Operations and the Provision of Medicaid Services

People in the training will be provided an overview of:
- General business operations in Minnesota
- Local resources that will help them set up and operate their business
- Circumstances in which recoveries of Medicaid payments may occur
Module 7: HCBS Settings Requirements

People will learn about:
- HCBS program requirements and expectations, including information about preferred practices proven to lead to effective outcomes (referred to as "promising practices")
- Exceptions to the HCBS program requirements and the HCBS rights modification process (allowing rights to be modified when people live in settings where they receive customized living, foster care or supported living services)
- Resources and tools available to assist providers to comply with program requirements and expectations
Registration
Register and view the training modules using TrainLink.

TrainLink access

You must have or request a unique key to access the learning courses offered through TrainLink.

Registration information

Once you have a unique key:
1. Go to the TrainLink home page
2. Select Disability Services – you will then be on the Disability Services Division (DSD) Learning Center home page
3. Sign on with your unique key
4. Select "Find a Course"
5. Enter “Waiver Provider 101” in the search field
For questions about TrainLink, email the DSD Learning Team.
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