CFSS FAQ for people who use services

CFSS is a program that helps people who need support with daily living activities.

With CFSS, you can:

• Choose to be the employer of your workers or have a CFSS provider agency employ your workers for you.
• Have family members and people using CFSS serve as your workers.
• Purchase goods and services.
• Purchase a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS).
• Receive a worker training and development budget.
• Use your units/dollars flexibly.

You may have heard of the programs PCA or CSG. The PCA and CSG programs are ending. CFSS is a new program that provides a similar service as PCA and CSG, with additional options and supports, such as goods and services.

You may be able to use CFSS if you need support with daily living activities. You must meet all the program’s rules for eligibility:

You meet the program’s rules for eligibility if:

• You live in the community and not in an institution such as a nursing home or intermediate care facility.
• You can direct your own care or have a person direct your care for you.
• You have Medical Assistance (MA), receive services through an MA waiver, are on the Alternative Care (AC) program or you have MinnesotaCare (in certain instances).
• You have been assessed and found eligible for the service.
• You are not using the Family Support Grant (FSG).

1. You need to be on Medical Assistance (MA), the Alternative Care (AC) program, or (in certain instances) MinnesotaCare.
2. You need to ask for an assessment. If you are under age 65, contact your county/tribal nation and request an assessment.
3. If you are age 65 or older and enrolled in a managed care organization (MCO), contact your MCO to request an assessment.
4. If you are 65 and older and not enrolled in an MCO, contact your county/tribal nation.
5. After you have your assessment, you will get:
   • The results of your assessment.
   • A notice of action letter in the mail. This will tell you the services you are eligible for and are not eligible for.

If you have questions about the results of the assessment, contact the county/tribal nation or MCO that did your assessment.

You will get a copy of your assessment results and a document (Information for people eligible for CFSS services, DHS-6893U) from your assessor. It explains the steps you need to take and information on who else helps you get CFSS started.

If you are eligible for CFSS:

1. Review Information for people eligible for CFSS services, DHS-6893U.
2. Contact consultation services providers until you find one you like who can work with you.
3. Inform your county/tribal nation or MCO once you and the consultation services provider agree to work together. Your county/tribal nation or MCO will enter a service authorization for the consultation services provider.

Before you can start CFSS, you must choose a consultation services provider.

Their job is to:

• Explain your options under CFSS, including service models.
• Help you understand what goods and services are allowed and not allowed.
• Help you write your CFSS service delivery plan. This is a written plan that lists the help you will get through CFSS and how and when the help will be provided.
• Respond to questions or concerns you have throughout the service plan year.
• Provide quality assurance support.

You may decide how much help you want from your consultation services provider. If you want to write your own service delivery plan, you may. Your consultation services provider still has a job to do though – they will review your plan, provide education and support and submit your plan to the county/tribal nation or managed care organization for approval.  

For more information, refer to CFSS consultation services overview.

Many people are taking the same steps you are, and there are waiting lists for some providers. Try contacting them by phone, email or any other options they offer. Many providers prefer email. You can also try contacting other consultation services providers – you can work with any of them.

While you’re waiting:

• Learn about the two CFSS models: CFSS: Agency and budget models.
• Start writing your plan: CFSS Individual Service Delivery Plan, DHS-6893P.
• Explore other CFSS training courses: CFSS webpage.

Once you have picked a consultation service provider and they have agreed to work with you, you must tell your county/tribal nation or managed care organization (MCO) care coordinator:

• The county/tribal nation or MCO will approve the service (this is called a “service authorization” or “service agreement”).
• You will get a service authorization letter in the mail authorizing the consultation services provider to work with you for a total of six sessions. If you end up needing more, the provider may ask DHS, the county/tribal nation or the MCO for more.

1. First, you’ll work with your consultation services provider to write and/or review your CFSS service delivery plan.
2. Your consultation services provider will send your CFSS service delivery plan to the county/tribal nation or managed care organization (MCO).
3. The county/tribal nation or MCO will either approve or deny the service delivery plan. If approved, you will receive a service authorization letter in the mail. This letter tells you:
   • The total amount of CFSS service you may use.
   • Which CFSS services your county/tribal nation or MCO approve.
   • The dates when your service will begin and end.

If denied, you will need to work with your consultation services provider to update your CFSS service delivery plan.

You may begin services once the lead agency approves your service delivery plan and authorizes your services, and you have finished your provider’s intake process.

CFSS is replacing PCA and CSG. CFSS gives people more choice and control over how they use services. This change makes available the new options described in the video What is Community First Services and Supports? and on the Community First Services and Supports webpage.

No. Your county/tribal nation or managed care organization (MCO) will authorize PCA or CSG services while you work through the process to switch to CFSS. Everyone must complete the transition by:

• March 31, 2026, for people on the Alterative Care (AC) program.
• Sept. 30, 2026, for people not on the Alterative Care (AC) program.

If you have recently had your reassessment, it is important to start the process of switching to CFSS right away, as outlined in Information for people eligible for CFSS services, DHS-6893U.

If you have a reassessment soon, you should start the process after your reassessment, as outlined in Information for people eligible for CFSS services, DHS-6893U.

At your next assessment, your assessor will give you Information for people eligible for CFSS services, DHS-6893U. Follow the steps provided.

No. Even if your PCA provider agency offers consultation services, you may not use the same provider for both consultation services and your other CFSS services.

They need to ensure they’ve passed the updated test on Personal Care Assistance (PCA) and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) Training and Tests. If they are unsure if they’ve taken and passed the updated certification test, they can review CFSS training and test – more information for more information.

They will also need to pass another background study if you change providers.

For more information, refer to:

• CFSS and workers FAQ
• Background studies.

They might need to apply with a new provider if you choose to change CFSS provider agencies or select the budget model.

Depending on the CFSS model you choose, the way their employment is managed might change.

If you have questions about this process, discuss them with your consultation services provider.

For information/resources to prepare for that conversation, refer to:

• CFSS and workers FAQ provides more information about the requirements for staff if you use the budget model.
• Financial management services.

You may change models at any time, with some exceptions. Talk with your consultation services provider to learn more about the steps to change models.

You’ll continue to have regular reassessments with your county/tribal nation or managed care organization (MCO) to review your eligibility. Your CFSS provider agency (agency model) or financial management services (FMS) provider (budget model) must request the reassessment 60 days before your current year ends. Your lead agency will contact you to schedule your reassessment.

You may change models at any time, with some exceptions. Talk with your consultation services provider to learn more about the steps to change models.

Yes. You must work with a consultation services provider every year when your reassessment happens, if you continue to be eligible for CFSS.

Yes. You may change consultation services providers at any time.

It is important for you to inform your current consultation services provider and your county/tribal nation or managed care organization (MCO) that you are choosing a new provider.

Your consultation services provider cannot also be your CFSS provider agency and/or your financial management services (FMS) provider, or contracted case management organization.

Follow the steps outlined in Information for people eligible for CFSS services, DHS-6893U to find and select a new consultation services provider.

You may share concerns directly with your CFSS provider agency, FMS provider or consultation services provider. If you can’t resolve the issue, contact your county/tribal nation or managed care organization for help.

Providers must tell you how to make a complaint when you start working with them. If you feel your concern was not resolved after making the complaint, email DHS DHS.CFSS@state.mn.us with a summary of your concerns.

Concerns about fraud or abuse? Report suspected fraud or abuse as outlined on the Office of the Inspector General’s webpage.

You may also contact the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care. They can help you understand your rights, address issues or concerns, help recommend resolutions and help you advocate.

Consultation services providers are trained to help you understand the differences between the two models and help you to complete your CFSS service delivery plan. They must submit your CFSS service delivery plan to the county/tribal nation for approval before you may begin CFSS services.

Watch the CFSS consultation services training for more information.

People started transitioning from PCA and CSG to CFSS in October 2024. It is important that you start the process to transition to CFSS at your reassessment, if you are still eligible. If you have already had your reassessment and are still using PCA or CSG, you should have received Information for people eligible for CFSS services, DHS-6893U, which explains the steps you need to take to switch to CFSS.

All people currently using PCA and CSG who continue to be eligible for CFSS will transition to CFSS by September 30, 2026. For people who are accessing PCA on the Alternative Care (AC) program, they must transition to CFSS by March 31, 2026.

Learn more about Transitioning from CSG to CFSS.

Learn more about the CFSS transition process.

You may direct your own care unless you are unable to. If necessary, another person may direct care on your behalf. In PCA, this person was called a responsible party. In CFSS, this person is called a participant’s representative. Your participant’s representative cannot be the same person as your CFSS worker.

A person must have a participant’s representative if they are:

• Under 18 years old.
• An adult with a court-appointed guardian.
• It is determined to need one through the assessment process.

For more information about the requirements of a participant’s representative, see CFSS Manual – Responsible party (PCA) and participant’s representative (CFSS).