02038212178Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Shireen Gandhi to serve as commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Gandhi has served as the temporary human services commissioner since February 2025. During that time, she led work to root out Medicaid fraud and strengthen program integrity. 01231319sarah.bergeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-727593" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2026-02-23T18:54:19ZGovernor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Shireen Gandhi to serve as commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Gandhi has served as the temporary human services commissioner since February 2025. During that time, she led work to root out Medicaid fraud and strengthen program integrity. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Shireen Gandhi to serve as commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Gandhi has served as the temporary human services commissioner since February 2025. During that time, she led work to root out Medicaid fraud and strengthen program integrity.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Commissioner Gandhi understands that protecting public programs and delivering high-quality care go hand in hand,” said Governor Walz. “Over the past year, she has demonstrated steady, decisive leadership at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, strengthening program integrity, rooting out fraud, and ensuring taxpayer dollars reach the Minnesotans who rely on these services. Shireen brings the experience and accountability needed to safeguard vital services while building a system Minnesotans can trust.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">More information is in the <a href="https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/index.jsp?id=1055-726245" title="Governor's news release" target="_blank">Governor's news release</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7275932026-02-24T23:21:43Z212178Accurate, fact-based information is critical in the fight against fraud. The Minnesota Department of Human Services launched a new fact check webpage to correct misleading information and outright false claims about Medicaid fraud in Minnesota. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-724446" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2026-02-11T14:57:13ZAccurate, fact-based information is critical in the fight against fraud. The Minnesota Department of Human Services launched a new fact check webpage to correct misleading information and outright false claims about Medicaid fraud in Minnesota. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Accurate, fact-based information is critical in the fight against fraud. On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Minnesota Department of Human Services launched a new <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/factcheck" target="_blank" title="fact check webpage">fact check webpage</a> to correct misleading information and outright false claims about Medicaid fraud in Minnesota. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Speculation, intentional misinformation and amateur investigations will not stop fraud in our state,” said Temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “It takes hard evidence to put criminals behind bars. The Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General’s investigations based on hard evidence allow us to stop payments to fraudsters and refer them to the Attorney General’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution. While we continue to tighten oversight, we’re also making sure people have a place to go for facts when they hear claims that are intended to justify the defunding of social services programs.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Misleading statements presented without facts or data can create confusion about Medicaid services that provide lifesaving and life-sustaining care. Medicaid, also known as Medical Assistance, provides health care for 1.2 million low-income Minnesotans, including children, people with disabilities and older adults.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The first round of fact checks posted on the new webpage address exaggerated Medicaid fraud figures, alleged findings of fraud made in social media videos, and the federal government’s decision to withhold $2 billion in Medicaid funding from Minnesota. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The new <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/factcheck" target="_blank" title="fact check webpage">fact check page</a> is part of the state’s <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="Medicaid program integrity website" target="_blank">Medicaid program integrity website</a> which houses additional resources and information about Minnesota’s fight against fraud.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Since the fall of 2024, the Minnesota Human Services Department has introduced new processes and reforms to detect and prevent fraud by: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Identifying 14 high-risk services and establishing freeze on new service providers in those programs </li> <li>Discontinuing the Housing Stabilization Services program </li> <li>Auditing Autism Service providers, including onsite visits </li> <li>Implementing licensure for autism centers </li> <li>Disenrolling inactive providers </li> <li>Beginning enhanced pre-payment review before fee-for-service payments are made to providers in the 13 high-risk services </li> <li>Conducting onsite visits of 5,800 providers of high-risk services by the end of May 2026 </li> </ul>7244462026-02-11T15:15:06Z212178Work to update Minnesota’s Medicaid claims processing systems using advanced analytics has cleared its first hurdle. The state expects to have a complete pre-payment review process in place by the end of the year.01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-723194" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2026-02-06T20:49:32ZWork to update Minnesota’s Medicaid claims processing systems using advanced analytics has cleared its first hurdle. The state expects to have a complete pre-payment review process in place by the end of the year.1053<h3 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">State reviewing findings and processes from third-party audit as next phase of development begins</h3> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Work to update Minnesota’s Medicaid claims processing systems using advanced analytics has cleared its first hurdle. The state expects to have a complete pre-payment review process in place by the end of the year.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Over the last three months, Optum has been working with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to develop an automated system to review fee-for-service Medicaid claims before they are paid, flagging items that need additional review before they are paid.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">To guide that work, the company reviewed nearly four years of past Medicaid claims in 14 high-risk services to test software algorithms. Optum also reviewed Minnesota’s policies for paying Medicaid claims. While the first phase of that work is complete, the testing found areas where the state and Optum need to revise some data sets for the system and consider policy updates to improve efficiency. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This initial reporting revealed patterns of claims in Early Intensive Developmental Behavioral Intervention services that didn’t match clear policies or procedures. If the pre-payment system being developed now had been in place at the time, these items would have been flagged for further review and payments paused, until additional investigation was completed. A flag for further review does not mean the service was inappropriate.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“This is not a measure of fraud, waste and abuse, but it shows us where we need to do more work to understand why these claims are raising red flags,” said John Connolly, deputy human services commissioner and state Medicaid director. “We may need to clarify policies so claims that deserve to be approved are not unnecessarily flagged. In other cases, providers may not have the training they need to file claims properly. We won’t know until we do the work to understand.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This is the first set of reports from Optum after just 90 days. Over the next 9 months the state will continue to refine work on the pre-payment system. If the department identifies activity that looks suspicious, it will be investigated and referred to law enforcement if necessary.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Health care payments systems are complex. To run correctly, they need a lot of information,” said Connolly. “It can take months to fine-tune the software and the processes to get these programs working. Once that work is done, it can reduce the risk of fraud.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In the first 90 days of its one-year contract Optum has: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Established a pre-payment analytics process</li> <li>Executed 192 targeted analytics across 14 high-risk service areas</li> <li>Initiated pre-pay claim analysis with each payment cycle</li> <li>Completed a quality control protocol (claims editing) to assess automation opportunities </li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The reporting by Optum represents a point in time at the conclusion of the first 90 days of work. Minnesota will continue to work with Optum to refine the pre-payment system for Medicaid processing. Over the next 9 months, work will continue to refine processes, automate the pre-payment review process and establish efficient workflows.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“As this process continues, we will be as transparent as we possibly can. We’re not just building a prepayment review system; we’re working to rebuild trust with the people of Minnesota. It means we will have to show our work as we move forward, being willing to admit that we don’t have all the answers yet,” said Connolly. “Right now, Minnesota is doing more than any other state when it comes to minimizing the risk of fraud, hardening our systems against bad actors and aggressively investigating suspected fraud, waste and abuse, referring cases to law enforcement when we find wrongdoing. Our goal is to win back trust by making Minnesota a national leader in Medicaid program integrity.”</p>7231942026-02-06T20:10:05Z212178Minnesota officials are beginning a massive statewide push to ensure Medicaid providers in 13 high-risk services have the qualifications required by law. Today, the Minnesota Department of Human Services put out a call across all state agencies to temporarily redeploy 168 qualified workers to help revalidate over 5,800 Medicaid providers by this summer. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-721923" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2026-02-02T20:49:32ZMinnesota officials are beginning a massive statewide push to ensure Medicaid providers in 13 high-risk services have the qualifications required by law. Today, the Minnesota Department of Human Services put out a call across all state agencies to temporarily redeploy 168 qualified workers to help revalidate over 5,800 Medicaid providers by this summer. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota officials are beginning a massive statewide push to ensure Medicaid providers in 13 high-risk services have the qualifications required by law. Today, the Minnesota Department of Human Services put out a call across all state agencies to temporarily redeploy 168 qualified workers to help revalidate over 5,800 Medicaid providers by this summer. The effort is a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to convince the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) to reverse course on a highly unusual action to withhold over $2 billion in annual Medicaid funding for low-income Minnesotans.</p> <h2 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Revalidating Medicaid providers</h2> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Revalidation of Medicaid eligibility is done for all providers on a regular basis. The Minnesota Department of Human Services completes this review with high-risk providers at least every three years. The process involves a review of the provider’s paperwork and billing and is followed up with an unannounced site visit. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Performing an unannounced site visit on every provider in 13 high-risk services is a major step forward in ensuring Minnesota’s Medicaid providers are of high-quality and meet the requirements of the law. We’re pulling in resources from multiple state agencies to make this happen as quickly as possible,” said John Connolly, deputy commissioner and state Medicaid director. “Minnesotans need to have confidence that the money being spent on these programs is helping the people it’s intended to help.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This week, state workers are being asked to step up to help out with site visits across Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Human Services has staff that normally perform that work, but more people will be called upon to get the job done on time. Training will begin in February, and onsite inspections will start soon afterwards. Providers in all 87 Minnesota counties will get unannounced visits.</p> <h2 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">CMS to withhold over $2 billion in Medicaid funding </h2> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In a December 5, 2025, letter, CMS gave the state 26 days to produce a corrective action plan for combating fraud. That plan was rejected less than a week after it was received. CMS notified the state on January 6, 2026, that it considered the corrective action plan to be deficient and intended to withhold $2 billion dollars in federal funding per year until DHS meets certain conditions, which is highly unusual. However, Minnesota officials say the reasons CMS laid out in its decision letter were inaccurate and based on off-topic reports that were conducted in 2019 and 2021, ignoring work that Minnesota had been doing with the federal agency over the last year.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">While an appeal of the CMS decision moves forward, the state is also attempting to work with federal officials. On Jan. 30, a revised corrective action plan was submitted to CMS to address the federal agency’s concerns.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We’re implementing their recommendations, and we are taking action above and beyond those requests to minimize the risk of fraud, harden our systems against bad actors, and catch fraud quickly when it does happen,” said Connolly.  </p> <h2 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Progress fighting fraud </h2> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">A review released this month by CMS of improper Medicaid payments found that <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/media/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/720779" title="Minnesota’s error rate is well below the national average" target="_blank">Minnesota’s error rate is well below the national average</a>. The agency reviewed billing and then compared payments to medical records for actual services that were performed. An error rate of 2.1% was found, well below the national average of 6.1%.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Moving forward, Minnesota is implementing a series of initiatives to combat fraud including: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Enhanced training for providers and state employees to work on Medicaid provider training and education</li> <li>Enhanced training for state employees who work on Medicaid </li> <li>Increased oversight of managed care organizations under contract with the Medicaid program</li> <li>A temporary halt to admitting new providers into 13 high risk Medicaid services</li> <li>Reexamining and revalidating over 5,800 Medicaid providers before this summer</li> <li>Enhanced review of claims before they are paid</li> <li>A top to bottom independent review of how Medicaid programs are run by the state of Minnesota to identify vulnerabilities and organizational needs</li> <li>Expanded use of analytics, including artificial intelligence to prioritize review of payments before and after they are made </li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Even one dollar lost to fraud, waste or abuse is too much. It’s a dollar that isn’t being used to offer lifesaving or life-enhancing medical care. The State of Minnesota and CMS are both mandated by law to provide that care, and we’re committed to carrying out that mission,” said Connolly. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Since the fall of 2024, the Minnesota Human Services Department has introduced new processes and reforms to detect and prevent fraud by: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Identifying 14 high-risk services and establishing a licensing moratorium on new service providers in those programs</li> <li>Discontinuing the Housing Stabilization Services program </li> <li>Auditing Autism Service providers, including onsite visits </li> <li>Implementing licensure for autism centers </li> <li>Disenrolling inactive providers  </li> <li>Beginning enhanced pre-payment review before fee-for-service payments are made to providers in the 13 high-risk services</li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">More information about Minnesota’s efforts to fight fraud can be found on the <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="Medicaid program integrity webpage" target="_blank">Medicaid program integrity webpage</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><em>Editor's note: In the second sentence, "... the Minnesota Department of Human Services put out a call across all state agencies to transfer 168 qualified workers ..." was revised to "the Minnesota Department of Human Services put out a call across all state agencies to temporarily redeploy 168 qualified workers ..." This change more accurately describes the nature of the arrangement between state agencies.</em></p>7219232026-02-04T16:27:00Z212178The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found an error rate of slightly over 2.1%, compared to a national average of 6.1%. The data for the review was compiled before the Minnesota Department of Human Services began implementing new strategies to minimize the risk of fraud and harden its systems against bad actors. Reviewers at CMS checked billing statements and then compared them with medical records to ensure the billing was accurate. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-720779" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2026-01-23T21:13:23ZThe U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found an error rate of slightly over 2.1%, compared to a national average of 6.1%. The data for the review was compiled before the Minnesota Department of Human Services began implementing new strategies to minimize the risk of fraud and harden its systems against bad actors. Reviewers at CMS checked billing statements and then compared them with medical records to ensure the billing was accurate. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">New federal data released by the U.S. Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) shows the overall rate of improper payment in Minnesota’s Medicaid program is far below national averages.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In the review released this week, CMS found an error rate of slightly over 2.1%, compared to a national average of 6.1%. The data for the review was compiled before the Minnesota Department of Human Services began implementing new strategies to minimize the risk of fraud and harden its systems against bad actors. Reviewers at CMS checked billing statements and then compared them with medical records to ensure the billing was accurate.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“No amount of error or fraud is acceptable. Even one dollar is too much,” said Temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “We’re committed to making Minnesota a national model for preventing fraud and catching errors. This review shows we have strong internal controls that we continue to improve, and we are not stopping there as we accelerate our efforts to fight fraud.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The data comes as federal authorities <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/media/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/719554" title="threaten to withhold $2 billion in annual funding" target="_blank">threaten to withhold $2 billion in annual funding</a> related to program integrity.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Since the fall of 2024, the Minnesota Human Services Department has introduced new processes and reforms to detect and prevent fraud:  </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>​​Identifying 14 high-risk services and establishing a <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="Medicaid program integrity webpage" target="_blank">Medicaid program integrity webpage</a> for the public </li> <li>Auditing autism service providers, including on-site visits </li> <li>​Discontinuing the Housing Stabilization Services program  </li> <li>​Establishing a moratorium on adding new service providers in 14 high-risk services </li> <li>​Implementing licensure for autism centers </li> <li>​Disenrolling inactive providers </li> <li>​Beginning enhanced pre-payment review before fee-for-service payments are made to providers in the 14 high-risk services </li> <li>​Developing plans to review and revalidate providers in the 14 high-risk services  </li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">​The new federal report is the first hard data in the past year to identify the scope of improper payments in Minnesota’s Medicaid program. CMS provides ongoing reviews to comply with a law passed by Congress in 2019. Minnesota officials say the review is just one more tool they will use to ensure the integrity of the programs the state uses to administer benefits.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">​“The CMS review confirms DHS is doing better than the national average in complying with Medicaid payment requirements. And in our ongoing effort to reduce errors and strengthen program integrity, the state is bringing on independent consultants to double-check payments, audit processes and recommend changes going forward,” said Gandhi. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Jan. 20, 2026, Letter from CMS: <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/2025-medicaid-error-notification_tcm1053-720555.pdf" title="Notification of RY 2025 Medicaid Improper Payment Rates " target="_blank">Notification of RY 2025 Medicaid Improper Payment Rates</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2025-medicaid-chip-supplemental-improper-payment-data.pdf" title="2025 Medicaid &amp; CHIP Supplemental Improper Payment Data">2025 Medicaid &amp; CHIP Supplemental Improper Payment Data</a> </li> </ul>7207792026-01-23T21:14:17Z212178The Minnesota Department of Human Services will freeze new provider enrollments in 13 categories of Medicaid services at high risk for fraud. The department is working with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the freeze, at which point the state will no longer accept new applications from businesses seeking to provide these services. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-719554" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2026-01-13T18:54:19ZThe state acted to meet or exceed the steps CMS requested in a December letter to address program integrity concerns. However, Administrator Oz has now deemed the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ actions inadequate — without time for state and federal agencies to discuss and agree upon a corrective action plan.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Department of Human Services is appealing a decision by the Trump Administration to withhold over $2 billion in annual Medicaid funding for Minnesota. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS), announced the withholding in a social media video last week. He alleged Minnesota has failed to take actions that fight fraud in our state’s Medicaid program.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“These sweeping allegations and unprecedented actions are not based on facts,” said John Connolly, human services deputy commissioner and Minnesota Medicaid director. “The move is counter to federal regulation and would destabilize health care across our state.” </p> <h2 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Working with CMS </h2> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Since October 2024, the Minnesota Department of Human Services has enhanced its continued work to stop fraud in Medicaid programs, identify risks, and harden programs to prevent bad actors from accessing them. That work is ongoing, but to-date actions include:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Identifying 14 high-risk services and establishing a program integrity dashboard for the public.</li> <li>Auditing autism service providers, including on-site visits.</li> <li>Discontinuing the Housing Stabilization Services program. </li> <li>Establishing a moratorium on adding new service providers in the 14 high-risk services.</li> <li>Beginning enhanced pre-payment review before fee-for-service payments are made to providers in the 14 high-risk services.</li> <li>Developing plans to review and revalidate providers in the 14 high-risk services. </li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The state acted to meet or exceed the steps CMS requested in a December letter to address program integrity concerns. However, Administrator Oz has now deemed the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ actions inadequate — without time for state and federal agencies to discuss and agree upon a corrective action plan.  </p> <h2 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Appealing the decision</h2> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The state formally appealed the CMS decision. The federal agency must now set a date for a hearing. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We agree that fraud needs to be addressed, and we have worked diligently to propose solutions and partner with CMS in good faith,” said Connolly. “Eliminating fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid program remains a top priority. Cutting off funding that is essential to health care without full review of the facts would be disastrous for 1.2 million Medicaid members in Minnesota — almost half of them children.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Details and updates on the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ program integrity work are available on the agency’s <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="Medicaid program integrity webpage" target="_blank">Medicaid program integrity webpage</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7195542026-01-13T19:36:04Z212178The Minnesota Department of Human Services will freeze new provider enrollments in 13 categories of Medicaid services at high risk for fraud. The department is working with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the freeze, at which point the state will no longer accept new applications from businesses seeking to provide these services. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-719094" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2026-01-08T18:54:19ZThe Minnesota Department of Human Services will freeze new provider enrollments in 13 categories of Medicaid services at high risk for fraud. The department is working with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to implement the freeze, at which point the state will no longer accept new applications from businesses seeking to provide these services. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Department of Human Services will freeze new provider enrollments in 13 categories of Medicaid services at high risk for fraud. The department is working with the U.S. Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the freeze, at which point the state will no longer accept new applications from businesses seeking to provide these services. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">A start date for the freeze is not yet determined. The pause is initially slated to last six months.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“This action is one more step we are taking to disrupt fraudulent billing,” Temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi said. “We must safeguard Medicaid resources, always mindful that access to these programs is a lifeline for so many Minnesotans.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) directed Minnesota to freeze new provider enrollments in 13 high-risk categories as a fraud fighting measure. As part of the <a href="https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2025-10%20Combatting%20Fraud_tcm1055-706055.pdf" title="Governor Walz’s Executive Order 25-10" target="_blank">Governor's Executive Order 25-10</a> to combat fraud, DHS had already announced two-year licensing freezes on home and community-based services (HCBS) and adult day programs, effectively limiting new provider enrollment in those services. HCBS includes individualized home supports, integrated community supports, and night supervision.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Currently enrolled providers can continue to serve clients in the service areas they are already approved to provide. This action does not freeze client enrollment. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">To ensure Minnesotans can receive critical services everywhere they live, the department will issue exceptions to add new providers where capacity is needed. Exceptions will require written approval from CMS.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The department is currently working with CMS to finalize specifics of the moratorium, including determining how applications in queue will be handled. The department will share those details soon.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The 13 categories deemed high risk for fraud in this action are: adult companion services, adult day services, adult rehabilitative mental health services, assertive community treatment, community first services and supports, early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention, individualized home supports, integrated community supports, intensive residential treatment services, night supervision services, nonemergency medical transportation services, peer recovery support services and recuperative care. Minnesota discontinued Housing Stabilization Services as a program in October 2025.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">CMS also directed the state to review and revalidate enrollment for current providers in 13 high-risk categories. The department is working with CMS on the timeline and specific requirements of this initiative and will share details when they are available. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Since May 2025, the Department of Human Services has taken these actions to prevent and stop fraud: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Identified 11 additional Medicaid benefits for high-risk classification.</li> <li><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/media/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/709851" target="_blank" title="Disenrolled approximately 800 inactive providers">Disenrolled approximately 800 inactive providers</a> in high-risk programs, freeing resources to focus on active providers.</li> <li>Brought on a third-party vendor to audit fee-for-service billing for 14 high-risk services, using advanced analytics to identify risks before making payments.</li> <li>Terminated <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/media/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/711321" title="housing stabilization services" target="_blank">housing stabilization services</a> due to widespread fraud. </li> <li>Launched a <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="new public website" target="_blank">new public website</a> to provide details and regular updates on program integrity work.</li> <li>Paused licenses for new <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/media/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/715720" title="home and community-based services providers" target="_blank">home and community-based services providers</a> and <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/media/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/716445" title="adult day providers" target="_blank">adult day providers</a> for two years, freeing capacity to provide monitoring and oversight of existing providers. </li> </ul> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7190942026-01-08T21:50:44Z212178The two-year licensing pause for adult day centers will free resources to focus on oversight of existing licensed providers. The pause is likely to last from Feb. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2028. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-716445" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-12-16T18:54:19ZThe two-year licensing pause for adult day centers will free resources to focus on oversight of existing licensed providers. The pause is likely to last from Feb. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2028. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota will soon extend a licensing pause to adult day care settings, where provider capacity exceeds current and projected needs for the service.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The announcement from the Minnesota Department of Human Services is the latest in a series of measures the agency has taken to tighten oversight and prevent and stop fraud. The action aligns with <a href="https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2025-10%20Combatting%20Fraud_tcm1055-706055.pdf" title="Governor Walz’s Executive Order 25-10" target="_blank">Governor Walz’s Executive Order 25-10</a> detailing steps to continue to combat fraud. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The two-year licensing pause for adult day centers will free resources to focus on oversight of existing licensed providers. The pause is likely to last from Feb. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2028. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The current licensed capacity of adult day providers goes well beyond the actual need for these services,” said temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “This action is necessary to safeguard the integrity of these programs for the people who need them.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/licensing/adult-day-care/" title="Licensed adult day centers" target="_blank">Licensed adult day centers</a> provide services such as health support, social activities and meals. Trained staff help supervise activities and keep participants safe. The services reduce isolation for participants, help people care for themselves and give caregivers a short break. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">During the pause, the state will stop accepting new applications for adult day center licenses and cancel pending applications. Licensing efforts will focus on visiting existing providers to ensure they are following state and federal rules. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">To ensure people across Minnesota can access the services they need, the department will work with counties, Tribal Nations and managed care organizations on exceptions for new licenses.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Since May 2025, the Department of Human Services has taken these actions to prevent and stop fraud: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Moved 11 additional Medicaid benefits into a high-risk classification, enabling tighter oversight with pre-enrollment site visits, unannounced site visits, criminal background checks and fingerprinting of those with an ownership stake.</li> <li>Disenrolled approximately 800 inactive providers in high-risk programs, freeing resources to focus on active providers.</li> <li>Brought on a third-party vendor to audit fee-for-service billing for 14 high-risk services, using advanced analytics to identify risks before making payments.</li> <li>Terminated Housing Stabilization Services due to widespread fraud. </li> <li>Paused licenses for new Home and Community-Based Services providers for two years, freeing capacity to provide monitoring and oversight of existing providers. </li> <li>Launched a <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="new public website" target="_blank">new public website</a> to provide details and regular updates on program integrity work.</li> </ul> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7164452025-12-16T16:51:25Z212178Governor Tim Walz today announced that Tim O’Malley will join the state as director of program integrity. Governor Walz also announced a state partnership with third party experts at WayPoint to implement a statewide fraud prevention program. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-716431" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-12-12T18:54:19ZGovernor Tim Walz today announced that Tim O’Malley will join the state as director of program integrity. Governor Walz also announced a state partnership with third party experts at WayPoint to implement a statewide fraud prevention program. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Governor Tim Walz today announced that Tim O’Malley will join the state as director of program integrity. A judge, former superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), former FBI agent, and reformer in the archdiocese, O’Malley will work across state government to strengthen fraud prevention and protect taxpayer dollars. Governor Walz also announced a state partnership with third party experts at WayPoint to implement a statewide fraud prevention program.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">More information is in the <a href="https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/index.jsp?id=1055-716178" title="Governor's news release" target="_blank">Governor's news release</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7164312026-01-13T20:27:52Z212178After unprecedented growth in new applications from home and community-based human services providers, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will implement a 2-year pause on new licenses to focus on improving oversight of existing licensed providers. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-715720" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-12-09T18:54:19ZAfter unprecedented growth in new applications from home and community-based human services providers, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will implement a 2-year pause on new licenses to focus on improving oversight of existing licensed providers. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">After unprecedented growth in new applications from home and community-based human services providers, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will implement a 2-year pause on new licenses to focus on improving oversight of existing licensed providers. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/licensing/hcbs-245d/" title="Licensed home and community-based services" target="_blank">Licensed home and community-based services</a> provide person-centered support to older adults and people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, allowing recipients to receive services in their own homes or communities. This includes individual community living supports, 24-hour emergency assistance and respite care services, as well as more intensive support services including crisis respite, day training and habilitation and integrated community supports. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The pause on new home and community-based services licenses will start Jan. 1, 2026, and is anticipated to last through Dec. 31, 2027. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The unprecedented increase in provider applications over the past five years far outpaces the increase in people receiving services,” said temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “This has stretched our resources and created frustrating backlogs for people applying for licenses. Pausing will allow us to provide necessary oversight of existing providers and better protect the health and safety of people receiving services.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">During the pause, DHS will:  </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Stop accepting new applications for home and community-based services licenses, </li> <li>Stop adding new service lines to currently licensed providers, and  </li> <li>Cancel all pending applications and pending requests for new service lines. </li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Legislature gave the Department of Human Services the authority to pause licensing temporarily, beginning in July. The agency provided information about this new authority to all license holders and provider organizations over the summer. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The actions also align with <a href="https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2025-10%20Combatting%20Fraud_tcm1055-706055.pdf" title="Governor Walz’s Executive Order 25-10" target="_blank">Governor Walz’s Executive Order 25-10</a> directing state agencies to take additional steps to continue combatting fraud. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The change will strengthen the department’s ability to monitor and review existing licensed home and community-based services providers and give DHS licensors more capacity to contribute to effective program integrity oversight.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Licensing efforts will focus on visiting existing providers to review for compliance with state and federal rules. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">To ensure people across Minnesota can access the services they need, the department will work with counties, Tribal Nations and managed care organizations on exceptions for new licenses. </p> <h2 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">New program integrity website</h2> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Human Services Department also launched a new tool to support transparency in its Medicaid program integrity work. A new public webpage shows how DHS is strengthening program integrity and oversight, preventing fraud and safeguarding services for Minnesota’s most vulnerable communities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="Medicaid program integrity webpage" target="_blank">Medicaid program integrity webpage</a> details the department’s commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and provides: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Clear definitions for fraud, waste and abuse.</li> <li>A timeline of actions taken.</li> <li>Key decisions made that support transparency, prevention, detection and enforcement.</li> <li>Information on preliminary investigations, cases opened, law enforcement referrals and administrative actions taken.</li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Learn more by visiting: <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" title="https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/" target="_blank">https://mn.gov/dhs/program-integrity/</a></p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7157202025-12-09T21:19:08Z212178The Minnesota Department of Human Services in August announced its interest in terminating the program due to widespread fraud. The termination recently received final approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-711321" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-10-31T17:54:19ZThe Minnesota Department of Human Services in August announced its interest in terminating the program due to widespread fraud. The termination recently received final approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota’s Medical Assistance Housing Stabilization Services program will end on Friday, Oct. 31. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Department of Human Services in August announced its interest in terminating the program due to widespread fraud. The termination <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/25-21%20HSS%20Termination%20Approval%20Letter%2010.24.25_tcm1053-711117.pdf" title="recently received final approval" target="_blank">recently received final approval</a> from the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Launched in 2020, Housing Stabilization Services was a Medical Assistance benefit designed to help seniors and people with disabilities, including substance use disorders, find and keep housing. Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid program.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“It’s upsetting that we had to take this step to stop criminals from taking advantage of services intended to help people,” said temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “We know that Housing Stabilization Services truly filled an important gap for so many participants. We’re working closely with partners to help them connect people to other services wherever possible.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Legislature and the Department of Human Services took strong actions this year to improve oversight of Housing Stabilization Services, with more stringent requirements for vetting providers and additional tools for investigating fraud. However, as the scope of fraud in the program became more apparent, the agency decided that Minnesota could not afford to wait and see how effective the new program integrity measures would be.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Department of Human Services received and responded to more than 200 comments during a 30-day public comment period about the end of the program and published a <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/HSS%20Termination%20Public%20Comment%20Summary_tcm1053-710155.pdf" target="_blank" title="summary of the comments">summary of the comments</a> online. One of the most common themes was concern for program participants affected by the program’s termination.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Department of Human Services is coordinating with counties, Tribes, Urban Indian organizations and managed care organizations to identify resources to help people impacted by the end of Housing Stabilization Services. Many of those resources are available at <a href="https://www.mn.gov/dhs/housing-resources/" title="mn.gov/dhs/housing-resources" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/housing-resources</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The agency also has an <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/housing-stabilization-services-termination/" title="FAQ for providers and clients with information about program termination" target="_blank">FAQ for providers and clients with information about program termination</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Department of Human Services remains committed to exploring a redesigned version of Housing Stabilization Services with stronger program integrity tools. </p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7113212025-11-03T21:55:36Z212178Governor Tim Walz today announced that he has ordered a third-party audit of billing for 14 high-risk Medicaid services. Payments for these programs will be paused for up to 90 days in order to detect suspicious billing activity and scrutinize the use of public funds. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-716437" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-10-29T17:54:19ZGovernor Tim Walz today announced that he has ordered a third-party audit of billing for 14 high-risk Medicaid services. Payments for these programs will be paused for up to 90 days in order to detect suspicious billing activity and scrutinize the use of public funds. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Governor Tim Walz today announced that he has ordered a third-party audit of billing for 14 high-risk Medicaid services. Payments for these programs will be paused for up to 90 days in order to detect suspicious billing activity and scrutinize the use of public funds. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Using funding passed during the 2025 legislative session, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has contracted with Optum, which will analyze Medicaid fee-for-service claims data and flag potential issues for DHS review. Optum’s analytics will identify irregularities such as missing documentation, unusually high billing patterns, or inconsistencies suggesting that a claim may not meet program requirements. The new layer of review will safeguard Medicaid dollars before payments go out.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">More information is in the <a href="https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/index.jsp?id=1055-711001" title="Governor's news release" target="_blank">Governor's news release</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7164372026-01-13T20:27:34Z212178Medicaid providers who have not billed for services in more than a year will be disenrolled from Minnesota’s Medicaid program, as the Minnesota Department of Human Services tightens oversight. The first round of disenrollment began Oct. 15, when roughly 800 providers were disenrolled. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidfraudfraud preventionprogram integrityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-709851" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-10-16T15:00:00ZMedicaid providers who have not billed for services in more than a year will be disenrolled from Minnesota’s Medicaid program, as the Minnesota Department of Human Services tightens oversight. The first round of disenrollment began Oct. 15, when roughly 800 providers were disenrolled. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medicaid providers who have not billed for services in more than a year will be disenrolled from Minnesota’s Medicaid program, as the Minnesota Department of Human Services tightens oversight. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The first round of disenrollment began Oct. 15, when roughly 800 providers were disenrolled. Impacted providers were certified prior to April 1, 2024, and have not billed since that date. This round of disenrollments does not include 621 inactive housing stabilization services providers because the program is slated to end on Oct. 31.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We must reduce risk and increase efficiencies wherever we can,” said Temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “Taking this first step to streamline the pool of inactive providers will strengthen the integrity of Minnesota’s Medicaid programs and services.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The action strengthens program integrity by reducing the administrative burden and compliance challenges of overseeing providers who aren’t providing services. The change ensures that Medicaid resources focus on providers who are actively serving members of Minnesota’s public health care programs. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The move also aligns with <a href="https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2025-10%20Combatting%20Fraud_tcm1055-706055.pdf" target="_blank" title="Governor Walz’s Executive Order 25-10">Governor Walz’s Executive Order 25-10</a> directing agencies to take additional steps to continue combatting fraud. The governor ordered DHS to “immediately disenroll all Minnesota Health Care Program enrolled providers who have not billed Medicaid in the last 12 months,” within the bounds of the law. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Additional rounds of disenrollments will continue.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Inactive providers will be notified of their disenrollment by letter. The letter will include information about how to appeal the decision if they believe it was made in error.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7098512025-10-16T17:05:35Z212178On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), under the guidance of its own DHS Office of Inspector General, moved to terminate the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program. In a letter sent Friday from DHS Temporary Commissioner Shireen Gandhi to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, DHS requested the unprecedented step of ending the Minnesota program. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidHousingeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-700501" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-08-01T15:00:00ZOn Friday, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), under the guidance of its own DHS Office of Inspector General, moved to terminate the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program. In a letter sent Friday from DHS Temporary Commissioner Shireen Gandhi to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, DHS requested the unprecedented step of ending the Minnesota program. 1053<h2 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Letter to federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from DHS Commissioner outlines steps being taken to protect enrollees and taxpayers, requests authorization to terminate program immediately</h2> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><strong>DHS Office of Inspector General immediately stops 11 additional HSS provider payments, for a total of 77 stopped payments overall</strong></p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), under the guidance of its own DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), moved to terminate the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program. In <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/intent-to-terminate-housing-stabilization-services-benefit_tcm1053-700518.pdf" title="a letter sent Friday" target="_blank">a letter sent Friday</a> from DHS Temporary Commissioner Shireen Gandhi to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), DHS requested the unprecedented step of ending the Minnesota program.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“DHS is rooting out fraud wherever we find it. We cannot allow one more cent of taxpayer money going out the door to providers who claim to serve Minnesotans in need of stable housing while lining their pockets for personal gain,” said DHS Temporary Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “As I made clear in my letter to CMS, our own data analysis has shown that this program does not have the necessary controls to stop bad actors, and we are urging CMS to approve our request to end this program as swiftly as possible.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">DHS intends to redesign and relaunch the benefit. Toward that effort, DHS will work with the legislature, providers, community partners, and CMS to fully redesign the program with robust program integrity and service quality requirements to prevent bad actors from entering the program and enhance care. Once that work is complete, DHS will then work with CMS to submit a new program framework for approval.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition to its decision to end the HSS program and terminate services, DHS announced that it had issued 11 new immediate payment withholds to HSS providers, effective July 31. To date, DHS has taken administrative action to suspend payments to a total of 77 HSS providers based upon credible allegations of fraud. The 11 new payment withholds are in addition to the 50 stopped payments already issued to HSS providers in the past month as a result of billing data analysis and investigations conducted by DHS’ Office of Inspector General.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“As our OIG data and investigations have revealed, too many fraudulent, unqualified bad actors have likely stolen money from our state’s taxpayers, and also cheated Minnesotans who need housing services,” said James Clark, DHS’ Inspector General. “The termination of this program, while regrettable for those who need these services, is the necessary step at this time.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We take a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and will continue to take quick action to halt payments to any provider organizations we believe have been committing fraud in our HSS program,” Gandhi stressed. “Enough is enough.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">DHS has begun work with CMS to take the required actions to end the housing stabilization services benefit as soon as possible, including required notifications to enrollees/service recipients as well as providers.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">While CMS completes its required process for terminating the program, DHS will continue to use the tools created by the legislature last legislative session to monitor and evaluate the remaining HSS providers, including evaluating those who have not billed or been active in the past year, while it works to process all paperwork and implement all protocols required by CMS to fully end HSS program operations. </p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />7005012025-08-01T19:40:35Z212178Updated spending dashboard shows where state and local funds are going. New state grants will build on Minnesota’s recent progress in addressing opioid abuse. Grants totaling $15 million will expand services for people suffering from opioid use disorder and make it easier to get help. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-695705" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-07-01T15:00:00ZUpdated spending dashboard shows where state and local funds are going. New state grants will build on Minnesota’s recent progress in addressing opioid abuse. Grants totaling $15 million will expand services for people suffering from opioid use disorder and make it easier to get help. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">New state grants will build on Minnesota’s recent progress in addressing opioid abuse.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Grants totaling $15 million will expand services for people suffering from opioid use disorder and make it easier to get help. The Minnesota Department of Human Services will award grants to 23 organizations recommended by the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This funding follows several encouraging developments in the fight against opioid abuse. In 2023, for the third year in a row, more people went to treatment for opioid use disorder treatment, according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s <a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/opioid-dashboard/index.html" title="Drug Overdose Dashboard" target="_blank">Drug Overdose Dashboard</a>. Also in 2023, fatal overdoses caused by opioids dropped for the first time in five years. The decline was particularly notable in rural Minnesota.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“While these signs of progress are encouraging, the opioid crisis continues to touch every corner of our state,” said Temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “There is still much work to do. With the possibility of federal funding cuts, these new grants are more important than ever to ensure that all Minnesotans have access to lifesaving services and support.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In another development supporting Minnesota’s commitment to public reporting of all opioid settlement spending, the <a href="https://mn.gov/mmb/impact-evaluation/projects/opioid-epidemic-response/spending-dashboard/index.jsp" title="Opioid Epidemic Response Spending Dashboard" target="_blank">Opioid Epidemic Response Spending Dashboard</a> now includes 2024 data. The dashboard tracks investments to mitigate the harm of the opioid epidemic since 2019. Public reporting supports transparency and helps the council, local governments and other policymakers identify needs. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In the current round of opioid grants, over $4.5 million will help expand and enhance the continuum of care for opioid-related substance use disorders. More than $3 million each will go to harm reduction initiatives, and workforce development programs and training. The new funding will also support programs that focus on primary prevention and education, as well as chronic pain and alternative treatments.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The investments will help address gaps in Minnesota’s continuum of care for Native people and people of color with opioid use disorder, while providing significant harm reduction services to diverse communities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Access to high-quality, culturally relevant care is essential for anyone who needs treatment for opioid use disorder,” said Joe Clubb, chair of the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council. “This funding expansion will help reduce harm by connecting Minnesotans with the care they need.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Organizations receiving grants serve the Twin Cities metropolitan area, greater Minnesota and Tribal Nations. Some grantees provide services statewide. For a full list of grantees and activities, view this overview of <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/2025_%20Opioid%20Epidemic%20Response%20Advisory%20Council%20grantees%20for%20Fiscal%20Year%202024_tcm1053-693907.pdf" title="2025 grantees" target="_blank">2025 grantees (PDF)</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The current awards are the fourth set of grants recommended by the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council. The Department of Human Services and the council requested proposals in June 2024. After extensive review, the council recommended the current grants. The Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council will announce additional funding recommendations and begin soliciting proposals for new funding soon.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">To learn more about the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council and Minnesota’s fight against opioid addiction, visit the council’s <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/opioids/home/" title="home page" target="_blank">home page</a>.</p>6957052025-07-01T15:12:19Z212178Minnesota is taking steps to supervise autism services providers and some housing services providers more closely. Starting June 1, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will tighten screening requirements for providers who bill Medicaid for autism services and some housing services. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-682742" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-05-02T15:19:08ZMinnesota is taking steps to supervise autism services providers and some housing services providers more closely. Starting June 1, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will tighten screening requirements for providers who bill Medicaid for autism services and some housing services. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota is taking steps to supervise autism services providers and some housing services providers more closely.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Starting June 1, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will tighten screening requirements for providers who bill Medicaid for autism services and some housing services. This includes Housing Stabilization Services, which helps older adults and people with disabilities with housing, as well as Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention autism services. The state will re-categorize both types of services as “high risk.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“It’s clear that these critical services need more oversight,” said temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “Moving these providers into the high-risk category is only the first step. We need more staff to put eyes on these programs and make sure everyone is safeguarding resources meant to help children, people with disabilities and older Minnesotans.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The federal government sets three levels of screening for providers who bill Medicaid: limited, moderate and high risk. Autism services are currently designated moderate risk, while Housing Stabilization Services are considered limited risk. States may choose to move providers into higher risk categories, and that’s what Minnesota will do.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The change will strengthen oversight by:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Mandating enhanced fingerprint background studies for owners</li> <li>Requiring screening visits before Medicaid enrollment and when enrollment is revalidated</li> <li>Allowing DHS to make unannounced site visits</li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Governor Tim Walz’s budget includes a strong slate of strategies to better detect, investigate and penalize fraud. The proposals include adding DHS staff to administer increased screening and enhanced oversight activities, as well as using new technology to detect fraud, strengthening investigation authority and tightening regulatory oversight. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Gandhi made the decision in late March, following internal discussions with DHS staff, to move autism and housing services to high-risk. Providers were given a 30-day notice this week. New providers will need to comply with the requirements beginning June 1. Existing providers will be phased into the new requirements when they renew their Medicaid enrollment.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many autism services providers and Housing Stabilization Services providers work hard every day to meet pressing needs across Minnesota. DHS encourages providers to reach out if they need technical assistance.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Anyone who suspects fraud or abuse of Medicaid funds is encouraged to report it by calling the DHS program integrity oversight hotline at 651-431-2650 or by visiting <a href="http://www.mn.gov/dhs/reportfraud" title="mn.gov/dhs/reportfraud" target="_blank"><em>mn.gov/dhs/reportfraud</em></a>. Medicaid is known as Medical Assistance in Minnesota.</p>6827422025-05-02T15:40:15Z212178At Clay County Family Service Center in Moorhead on Thursday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-681700" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-04-24T21:10:59ZAt Clay County Family Service Center in Moorhead on Thursday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">At Clay County Family Service Center in Moorhead on Thursday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Changes proposed in the U.S. Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts nationwide to health care programing currently benefiting 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The proposed $880 billion target is not just an abstract figure. It represents a direct threat to the health and well-being of countless Minnesotans and the stability of our health care system,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “These cuts would also deeply impact our healthcare providers, with rural hospitals and long-term care facilities, already facing financial strain, bearing the brunt. Medicaid dollars are a lifeline for these providers, and its erosion would destabilize our entire healthcare infrastructure.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medicaid is a foundational component of Minnesota’s health care system, injecting billions of dollars into communities across the state and helping hospitals remain operational. In Clay County in 2023, <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8665B-ENG" target="_blank" title="Medicaid and MinnesotaCare">Medicaid and MinnesotaCare</a> invested $144 million in care for 18,000 residents. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many Minnesotans could lose their coverage and access to lifesaving health care and preventive medicine if Medicaid is cut. Without comprehensive health care coverage, people are likely to skip early and preventive care, leading to worse outcomes and more expensive treatments later. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Significant service cuts could be required for the people who remain on Medicaid. These reductions would severely limit coverage, forcing vulnerable populations – particularly older adults and people with disabilities – to make difficult choices about their care, including long-term care options. Older adults and people with disabilities make up approximately 15% of Medicaid enrollees and account for roughly 60% of total spending, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these cuts on those who rely on long-term care. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition, the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes to the individual market and MinnesotaCare will result in higher health costs for Minnesotans, causing many to lose coverage.   </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Without congressional action, three out of four MNsure enrollees in western Minnesota will see their health care costs go up in 2026. If the current tax credits expire, these consumers will pay about $200 more each month, on average – a 62% increase in the premium they pay,” said MNsure Chief Executive Officer Libby Caulum. “A dramatic spike in costs could put health insurance suddenly out of reach for many families and interrupt crucial access to care."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Between draconian cuts to Medicaid and loss of funding for enhanced advanced premium tax credits, Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate of 3.8% will likely increase significantly. This will cause many Minnesotans to forego care or be pushed into emergency rooms where uncompensated costs will be picked up by many people purchasing private coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The event in Moorhead is the seventh in a series of roundtables state officials held on the proposed federal health care cuts. Other roundtables were held in St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester, Mankato and Bloomington.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Find more information about the impact of Minnesota’s Medicaid program and numbers specific to your area at <a href="http://www.mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" target="_blank" title="mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters"><em>mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters</em></a>.</p>6817002025-04-24T21:19:39Z212178At Gillette Children’s Mankato Clinic on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The event in Mankato is the fifth in the series. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-678685" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-04-11T17:30:00ZAt Gillette Children’s Mankato Clinic on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The event in Mankato is the fifth in the series. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">At Gillette Children’s Mankato Clinic on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Changes proposed in the U.S. Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts nationwide to health care programing that benefit 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The proposed $880 billion target is not just an abstract figure. It represents a direct threat to the health and well-being of countless Minnesotans and the stability of our health care system,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “These cuts would also deeply impact our healthcare providers, with rural hospitals and long-term care facilities, already facing financial strain, bearing the brunt. Medicaid dollars are a lifeline for these providers, and its erosion would destabilize our entire healthcare infrastructure.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medicaid is a foundational component of Minnesota’s health care system, injecting billions of dollars into communities across the state and helping hospitals remain operational. Blue Earth, Le Seuer and Nicollet Counties, <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8665B-ENG" title="Medicaid and MinnesotaCare (PDF)" target="_blank">Medicaid and MinnesotaCare</a> invest $398 million dollars annually in care for residents. In the same counties, 28,000 residents were enrolled in <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters/who-medicaid-and-minnesotacare-serves/" title="Medicaid in 2023">Medicaid in 2023</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many Minnesotans could lose their coverage and access to lifesaving health care and preventive medicine if Medicaid is cut. Without comprehensive health care coverage, people are likely to skip early and preventive care, leading to worse outcomes and more expensive treatments later. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Significant service cuts could be required for the people who remain on Medicaid. These reductions would severely limit coverage, forcing vulnerable populations – particularly older adults and people with disabilities – to make difficult choices about their care, including long-term care options. Older adults and people with disabilities make up approximately 15% of Medicaid enrollees and account for roughly 60% of total spending, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these cuts on those who rely on long-term care. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition, the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes to the individual market and MinnesotaCare will result in higher health costs for Minnesotans, causing many to lose coverage.   </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Without congressional action, eight out of ten MNsure enrollees in southern Minnesota will see their health care costs go up in 2026. If the current tax credits expire, these consumers will see the cost of their monthly premiums jump by 74%, on average,” said MNsure Chief Executive Officer Libby Caulum. “A dramatic spike in costs could put health insurance suddenly out of reach for many families, with wide-reaching consequences for our health care system statewide.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Between draconian cuts to Medicaid and loss of funding for enhanced advanced premium tax credits, Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate of 3.8% will likely increase significantly. This will cause many Minnesotans to forego care or be pushed into emergency rooms where uncompensated costs will be picked up by many people purchasing private coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The event in Mankato is the fifth in a series of roundtables state officials will be holding on the proposed federal health care cuts. The first four events were in St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud and Rochester.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Find more information about the impact of Minnesota’s Medicaid program and numbers specific to your area at <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" title="mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6786852025-04-11T20:11:19Z212178At Fernbrook Family Center in Rochester on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The Rochester event is the fourth in the series. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-678636" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-04-11T05:30:00ZAt Fernbrook Family Center in Rochester on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The Rochester event is the fourth in the series. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">At Fernbrook Family Center in Rochester on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Changes proposed in the U.S. Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts nationwide to health care programing that benefit 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The proposed $880 billion target is not just an abstract figure. It represents a direct threat to the health and well-being of countless Minnesotans and the stability of our health care system,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “These cuts would also deeply impact our healthcare providers, with rural hospitals and long-term care facilities, already facing financial strain, bearing the brunt. Medicaid dollars are a lifeline for these providers, and its erosion would destabilize our entire healthcare infrastructure.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medicaid is a foundational component of Minnesota’s health care system, injecting billions of dollars into communities across the state and helping hospitals remain operational. Olmstead County alone, <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8665B-ENG" title="Medicaid and MinnesotaCare (PDF)" target="_blank">Medicaid and MinnesotaCare</a> invest $622 million dollars annually in care for residents. 29% of Olmstead County residents were enrolled in <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters/who-medicaid-and-minnesotacare-serves/" title="Medicaid in 2023">Medicaid in 2023</a>, just over 36,000 enrollees.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many Minnesotans could lose their coverage and access to lifesaving health care and preventive medicine if Medicaid is cut. Without comprehensive health care coverage, people are likely to skip early and preventive care, leading to worse outcomes and more expensive treatments later. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Significant service cuts could be required for the people who remain on Medicaid. These reductions would severely limit coverage, forcing vulnerable populations – particularly older adults and people with disabilities – to make difficult choices about their care, including long-term care options. Older adults and people with disabilities make up approximately 15% of Medicaid enrollees and account for roughly 60% of total spending, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these cuts on those who rely on long-term care. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition, the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes to the individual market and MinnesotaCare will result in higher health costs for Minnesotans, causing many to lose coverage.   </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Without congressional action, eight out of ten MNsure enrollees in southern Minnesota will see their health care costs go up in 2026. If the current tax credits expire, these consumers will see the cost of their monthly premiums jump by 74%, on average,” said MNsure Chief Executive Officer Libby Caulum. “A dramatic spike in costs could put health insurance suddenly out of reach for many families, with wide-reaching consequences for our health care system statewide.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Between draconian cuts to Medicaid and loss of funding for enhanced advanced premium tax credits, Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate of 3.8% will likely increase significantly. This will cause many Minnesotans to forego care or be pushed into emergency rooms where uncompensated costs will be picked up by many people purchasing private coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The event in Rochester is the fourth in a series of roundtables state officials will be holding on the proposed federal health care cuts. The first three events were in St. Paul, Duluth and St. Cloud.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Find more information about the impact of Minnesota’s Medicaid program and numbers specific to your area at <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" title="mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6786362025-04-11T16:37:45Z212178At Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The event in St. Cloud is the third in the series. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-678587" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-04-04T17:30:00ZAt Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The event in St. Cloud is the third in the series. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">At Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Changes proposed in the U.S. Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts nationwide to health care programing that benefit 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The proposed $880 billion target is not just an abstract figure. It represents a direct threat to the health and well-being of countless Minnesotans and the stability of our health care system,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “These cuts would also deeply impact our healthcare providers, with rural hospitals and long-term care facilities, already facing financial strain, bearing the brunt. Medicaid dollars are a lifeline for these providers, and its erosion would destabilize our entire healthcare infrastructure.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medicaid is a foundational component of Minnesota’s health care system, injecting billions of dollars into communities across the state and helping hospitals remain operational. In Stearns County alone, <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8665B-ENG" title="Medicaid and MinnesotaCare (PDF)" target="_blank">Medicaid and MinnesotaCare</a> invest $622 million dollars annually in care for residents. 27% of Stearns County residents were enrolled in <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters/who-medicaid-and-minnesotacare-serves/" title="Medicaid in 2023">Medicaid in 2023</a>, a total of 43,411 enrollees.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many Minnesotans could lose their coverage and access to lifesaving health care and preventive medicine if Medicaid is cut. Without comprehensive health care coverage, people are likely to skip early and preventive care, leading to worse outcomes and more expensive treatments later. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Significant service cuts could be required for the people who remain on Medicaid. These reductions would severely limit coverage, forcing vulnerable populations – particularly older adults and people with disabilities – to make difficult choices about their care, including long-term care options. Older adults and people with disabilities make up approximately 15% of Medicaid enrollees and account for roughly 60% of total spending, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these cuts on those who rely on long-term care. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition, the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes to the individual market and MinnesotaCare will result in higher health costs for Minnesotans, causing many to lose coverage.   </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"If Congress fails to extend current tax credits, thousands of working families who buy health insurance on the individual market will see higher costs in 2026," said MNsure Chief Executive Officer Libby Caulum. "More than 11,000 people in Minnesota's 6th congressional district will pay more for coverage next year, with the average monthly premium increasing $166 per month, nearly $2,000 annually."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Between draconian cuts to Medicaid and loss of funding for enhanced advanced premium tax credits, Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate of 3.8% will likely increase significantly. This will cause many Minnesotans to forego care or be pushed into emergency rooms where uncompensated costs will be picked up by many people purchasing private coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The event in St. Cloud is the third in a series of roundtables state officials will be holding on the proposed federal health care cuts. The first two events were in St. Paul and Duluth. More roundtables are planned in Mankato, Rochester, and Moorhead.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Find more information about the impact of Minnesota’s Medicaid program and numbers specific to your area at <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" title="mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6785872025-04-10T21:20:00Z212178At Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The event in Duluth is the second in the series. 01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-678589" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-03-28T17:30:00ZAt Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans. The event in Duluth is the second in the series. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">At Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth on Friday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Changes proposed in the U.S. Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts nationwide to health care programing that benefit 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The proposed $880 billion target is not just an abstract figure. It represents a direct threat to the health and well-being of countless Minnesotans and the stability of our health care system,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “This significant number underscores the potential harm facing our state, and the truly challenging choices that will have to be made if these cuts are enacted.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medicaid is a foundational component of Minnesota’s health care system, injecting billions of dollars into communities across the state and helping hospitals remain operational. In northeastern Minnesota alone, <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8665B-ENG" title="Medicaid and MinnesotaCare (PDF)" target="_blank">Medicaid and MinnesotaCare</a> invest $1.8 billion dollars annually in care for residents, covering nearly 200,000 enrollees.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many Minnesotans could lose their coverage and access to lifesaving health care and preventive medicine if Medicaid is cut. Without comprehensive health care coverage, people are likely to skip early and preventive care, leading to worse outcomes and more expensive treatments later. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Significant service cuts could be required for the people who remain on Medicaid. These reductions would severely limit coverage, forcing vulnerable populations – particularly older adults and people with disabilities – to make difficult choices about their care, including long-term care options. Older adults and people with disabilities make up approximately 15% of Medicaid enrollees and account for roughly 60% of total spending, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these cuts on those who rely on long-term care. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"For the women, children and newborns we care for at Essentia Health, Medicaid is often foundational to their access to health care," said Dr. Michael Kassing, an OB/GYN at Essentia. "Our patients have enough on their plates without having to worry about access to care and coverage. My team and I want to make sure they can continue to receive world-class care here at Essentia, and Medicaid has been key to doing exactly that.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition, the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes to the individual market and MinnesotaCare will result in higher health costs for Minnesotans, causing many to lose coverage.   </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"Over seventy percent of MNsure enrollees in northern Minnesota – more than 13,000 people – will see their health care costs go up in 2026, unless Congress acts to extend current tax credits,” said MNsure Chief Executive Officer Libby Caulum in a statement. “On average, their premiums will go up by $186/month, a 56% increase in what they pay for the coverage they depend on. Minnesotans recognize the importance of having health insurance, but many families will face tough choices if faced with this type of price hike."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Between draconian cuts to Medicaid and loss of funding for enhanced advanced premium tax credits, Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate of 3.8% will likely increase significantly. This will cause many Minnesotans to forego care or be pushed into emergency rooms where uncompensated costs will be picked up by many people purchasing private coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The event in Duluth is the second in a series of roundtables state officials will be holding on the proposed federal health care cuts. The first was in St. Paul. More roundtables are planned in Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and other locations.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Find more information about the impact of Minnesota’s Medicaid program and numbers specific to your area at <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" title="mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6785892025-04-10T21:20:00Z212178pwlwl52scott.petersongrantseng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-676605" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-03-26T18:36:20ZMonday's sudden and unexpected termination of federal mental health and substance use disorder grant funding will have immediate and wide-ranging consequences for Minnesotans. The cancellation of these grants will result in the termination of around $27.5 million from DHS’ Behavioral Health Administration. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Monday's sudden and unexpected termination of federal mental health and substance use disorder grant funding will have immediate and wide-ranging consequences for Minnesotans. The cancellation of these grants will result in the termination of around $27.5 million from DHS’ Behavioral Health Administration.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This terminated federal funding provided many benefits, including school-based mental health services for children, access to the life-saving overdose reversal drug naloxone, and critical treatment and recovery supports for individuals experiencing behavioral health issues.  This funding elimination means reduced access to care, worsened health disparities and an increased strain on an already-stretched mental health system in Minnesota.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">We know there will be immediate impacts to services and work that has been happening in the community, but it will take time to fully understand the magnitude of this federal action. DHS is working to determine which grantees will need to terminate programmatic work and activities related to this grant funding and where contracted project work must immediately cease. As we deal with the repercussions of this disruptive federal action, we will continue to coordinate with state and community partners to assess the situation.</p>6766052025-04-02T19:26:41Z212178At Children’s Minnesota Hospital in St. Paul on Saturday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates kicked off a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. The Saturday event in St. Paul is the first in the series.01231319sarah.bergMedicaidMedical AssistanceMinnesotaCareeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-673924" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-03-22T17:30:00ZAt Children’s Minnesota Hospital in St. Paul on Saturday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates kicked off a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. The Saturday event in St. Paul is the first in the series.Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage for 1.3 million Minnesotans1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">At Children’s Minnesota Hospital in St. Paul on Saturday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates kicked off a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Changes proposed in the U.S. Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts to health care programing benefiting 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The proposed $880 billion target is not just an abstract figure. It represents a direct threat to the health and well-being of countless Minnesotans and the stability of our health care system,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “This significant number underscores the potential harm facing our state, and the truly challenging choices that will have to be made if these cuts are enacted.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many Minnesotans could lose their coverage and access to lifesaving health care and preventive medicine if Medicaid is cut. Without comprehensive health care coverage, people are likely to skip early and preventive care, leading to worse outcomes and more expensive treatments later. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Significant service cuts could be required for the people who remain on Medicaid. These reductions would severely limit coverage, forcing vulnerable populations – particularly older adults and people with disabilities – to make difficult choices about their care, including long-term care options. Older adults and people with disabilities make up approximately 15% of Medicaid enrollees and account for roughly 60% of total spending, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these cuts on those who rely on long-term care. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"In my day-to-day life Medicaid is a vital lifeline,” said Sumukha Terakanambi, a Lakeville resident with a progressive neuromuscular disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. “Medicaid covers prescription drugs to maintain my health, personal care assistance to assist with acts of daily living, transportation to get to work and out in the community, durable medical equipment to help with personal cares, home modifications to make my home more accessible, and assistive technology to support my employment."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medicaid is a foundational component of Minnesota’s health care system, injecting billions of dollars into communities across the state and helping hospitals remain operational.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"Medicaid plays a crucial role in ensuring that every child has access to the quality healthcare they need,” said Dr. Marc Gorelick, president and CEO of Children's Minnesota. “At Children's Minnesota, we see firsthand the profound impact of Medicaid. Nearly half of the patients we serve rely on Medicaid, which helps set up kids for a lifetime of success by providing access to essential preventative care, such as check-ups and vaccines, and effective treatment for chronic conditions. This proactive approach prevents more serious health issues that ultimately cost society more in the long run. Cutting Medicaid threatens access to these essential services for the kids and families we serve. An investment in Medicaid is an investment in our children, and ultimately an investment in a healthier future for all."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition, the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes to the individual market and MinnesotaCare will result in higher health costs for Minnesotans, causing many to lose coverage.   </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">"Without congressional action to extend current tax credits, over 19,000 Minnesotans will lose access to the financial help that makes their health insurance affordable, and nearly 90,000 will see their monthly premium bill increase next year,” said MNsure Chief Executive Libby Caulum. “On average, these consumers will pay over 50% more every month for the health coverage they depend on. Minnesotans recognize the importance of having health insurance, but many families will face tough choices if faced with this type of price hike."</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Between draconian cuts to Medicaid and loss of funding for enhanced advanced premium tax credits, Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate of 3.8% will likely increase significantly. This will cause many Minnesotans to forego care or be pushed into emergency rooms where uncompensated costs will be picked up by many people purchasing private coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Saturday event in St. Paul is the first in a series of roundtables state officials will be holding on the proposed federal health care cuts. More roundtables are planned in Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and other locations.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Find more information about the impact of Minnesota’s Medicaid program at <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" title="mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6739242025-04-10T21:20:00Z212178The Minnesota Department of Human Services is seeking another round of input on changes to draft licensing standards for family child care and child care centers. On Thursday, the state released a second draft of revised licensing standards that incorporates extensive community input gathered over summer 2024. The effort – in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families – is part of the ongoing Child Care Regulation Modernization Project. pwlwl52sarah.bergcommunity engagementpublic inputeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-669359" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-02-13T16:01:00ZThe Minnesota Department of Human Services is seeking another round of input on changes to draft licensing standards for family child care and child care centers. On Thursday, the state released a second draft of revised licensing standards that incorporates extensive community input gathered over summer 2024. The effort – in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families – is part of the ongoing Child Care Regulation Modernization Project. More opportunities for community to give feedback1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Department of Human Services is seeking another round of input on changes to draft licensing standards for family child care and child care centers. On Thursday, the state released a second draft of revised licensing standards that incorporates extensive community input gathered over summer 2024. The effort – in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families – is part of the ongoing Child Care Regulation Modernization Project.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">DHS invites providers, parents, licensors and other community partners to participate in upcoming information sessions, beginning Feb. 24. These sessions will highlight significant updates in the second draft and share information about numerous opportunities to give feedback in the coming months. More information on how to register for the information sessions can be found on the <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/licensing/child-care-and-early-education/child-care-regulation-modernization.jsp" title="project webpage">project webpage</a>.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We’re taking a deliberate approach and gathering multiple rounds of input because it’s important to get these standards right,” said Temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi. “Our goal is to balance the needs of families, providers and licensors while prioritizing the well-being of children.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The new draft, as well as reports summarizing key themes heard in the first round of engagement, are on the <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/licensing/child-care-and-early-education/child-care-regulation-modernization.jsp" title="project webpage">project webpage</a>. The second draft of the standards reflects input from providers, licensors, parents and others while maintaining the state’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of children in care.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Feedback received on this second draft will guide the development of a third draft, which will be released before the 2026 legislative session.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6693592025-02-13T19:03:55Z212178A new state report – co-created with community leaders – offers reflection, guidance and recommendations for action to better use Medicaid to support the health and well-being of American Indian communities.pwlwl52scott.petersonMedical AssistanceAmerican IndianPathwayshealth equityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-666742" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2025-01-27T16:01:00ZA new state report – co-created with community leaders – offers reflection, guidance and recommendations for action to better use Medicaid to support the health and well-being of American Indian communities.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">A new state report – co-created with community leaders – offers reflection, guidance and recommendations for action to better use Medicaid to support the health and well-being of American Indian communities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Pathways to Racial Equity in Medicaid: Improving the Health and Opportunity of American Indians in Minnesota” aims to address the ongoing health disparities experienced by American Indian communities in the state.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The report from the Minnesota Department of Human Services is the result of extensive community engagement, incorporating guidance from American Indian community members, Tribal leaders and health care providers. The findings underscore the urgent need for systemic changes in health care delivery to center Indigenous knowledge and practices. The report calls for a fundamental rethinking of how health is defined and how health systems operate, advocating for an approach that embraces holistic, culturally relevant practices rather than Western biomedical models.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Improving how we administer Medicaid is crucial as we collectively work toward achieving health equity with American Indian communities in Minnesota,” said Dr. Nathan Chomilo, Medicaid Medical Director and the report’s lead author. “The time for action is now. It is imperative that we implement these recommendations to create a health care system that is truly responsive and culturally inclusive for all people in Minnesota.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The report includes three main calls for action:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>Invest in traditional healing</strong>. To expand access to traditional healing services, the report proposes engaging with Tribal Nations and urban American Indian clinics to explore covering traditional healing practices through Medicaid. This could include applying for a federal waiver or incorporating traditional healing into Medicaid to address <a href="https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/key-concepts/social-drivers-health-and-health-related-social-needs" title="social drivers of health" target="_blank">social drivers of health</a>. </li> <li><strong>Reframe definitions of health and well-being</strong>. A collaborative effort with Tribal Nations and urban American Indian communities is vital to developing a shared definition of health and well-being that reflects Indigenous values and cultural practices. The report encourages DHS to work with federal partners to ensure that Medicaid rules and regulations support this vision. This aligns with the 2022 guidance from the White House on Indigenous knowledge.</li> <li><strong>Establish a Pathways to American Indian and Tribal Health Integration (PATH-I) Team</strong>: Creating a dedicated PATH-I team at DHS would enhance community engagement and ensure that cultural competence is integrated across state agencies. The team would focus on ongoing dialogue with community members, share information about Medicaid resources, and improve coordination among state and local health systems.</li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">There remains much for state officials and workers to learn from, and to create together with, urban American Indian communities and Tribal Nations.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“As a Native person who has been on Medicaid in Minnesota and now works for DHS, I have personally experienced the frustrations of Medicaid’s complicated application process and barriers to care,” said Takayla Lightfield, the report’s lead facilitator. “Being able sit down and to talk with other Native people during a shared meal and hear their stories directly presented two opportunities: talking about recent changes in Medicaid coverage that community members were not aware of, and coming up with ideas together on how changes can continue to be made to Medicaid for the betterment of our relatives’ lives. There’s a lot more work to be done, and community needs to be included.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Through this experience, I have learned to translate the daily challenges my patients face into advocacy at the policy level, to help focus on their holistic health rather than individual issues,” said Dr. Charity Reynolds, Medical Director for Fond du Lac Human Services Division and a co-creator of the report. “It’s crucial that decision-making processes include representation from the communities being served, ensuring that those impacted have a seat at the table.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“I appreciated the collective work we did together as community partners and leaders on this report,” said Dr. Antony Stately, CEO of the Native American Community Clinic (NACC) and a co-creator of the report. “It was helpful for me to hear the perspectives of others, learn their experiences of frustration and success in serving our community, and witness the power of putting our minds together to imagine creative solutions for improving the health and well-being of our relatives.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">DHS will begin to implement the report’s recommendations immediately, working closely with American Indian communities. The agency encourages community members, Tribal Nations, providers and community-based organizations to engage in ongoing dialogue.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This is the second report to explore how Medicaid can reduce racial health disparities. In 2022, DHS published <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8209A-ENG" title="“Building Racial Equity into the Walls of Minnesota Medicaid: A Focus on U.S.-born Black Minnesotans” (PDF)">“Building Racial Equity into the Walls of Minnesota Medicaid: A Focus on U.S.-born Black Minnesotans” (PDF)</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information about the Pathways report, please visit <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8209C-ENG" title="&quot;Pathways to Racial Equity in Medicaid: Improving the Health and Opportunity of American Indians in Minnesota&quot; (PDF)">"Pathways to Racial Equity in Medicaid: Improving the Health and Opportunity of American Indians in Minnesota" (PDF)</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6667422025-02-07T22:14:11Z212178Eligible Minnesota children will soon have steady access to Medicaid health insurance until they turn 6. The new policy as of Jan. 1 will support a healthier, more equitable start for the youngest state residents. pwlwl52scott.petersonMedical Assistancechildrencoveragehealth equityeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-663011" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-12-30T16:01:00ZEligible Minnesota children will soon have steady access to Medicaid health insurance until they turn 6. The new policy as of Jan. 1 will support a healthier, more equitable start for the youngest state residents. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Eligible Minnesota children will soon have steady access to Medicaid health insurance until they turn 6.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The new policy as of Jan. 1 will support a healthier, more equitable start for the youngest state residents. All children under age 6 who qualify for Medical Assistance will have up to 72 months of uninterrupted coverage. Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid program.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Signed into law by Governor Tim Walz in 2023, continuous eligibility for kids prevents gaps in necessary care and promotes health equity. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We know that consistent access to health care and regular check-ups improve children’s health outcomes, support school readiness and advance health equity,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “This new policy takes a big step toward those goals.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Another change gives qualifying 19- and 20-year-olds ongoing Medical Assistance eligibility for 12 months at a time.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota has significant racial health disparities, with Black and Hispanic children more likely to experience gaps in health care coverage. Data shows that these groups are at greater risk of losing their health insurance because of paperwork and administrative barriers. The new law makes it easier for kids to stay covered.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For children under 6 who qualify for Medical Assistance, the new law extends their eligibility until the last day of the month of their 6th birthday.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The law’s initial phase took effect in January 2024. It allows children ages 6 to 19 who qualify for Medical Assistance to remain eligible for 12 months at a time.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">People who have Medical Assistance have to renew their insurance each year. To keep their health insurance, enrollees are urged to update their contact information and watch their mail for important renewal paperwork. For more information about Medical Assistance renewals, visit <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage/" title="mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage">mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6630112025-02-07T22:14:28Z212178Thirty-seven organizations across Minnesota will use $4.4 million in state grant funds to support creativity and innovation as they assist people suffering from dementia-related illness.01231319spenser.bickettMinnesota Board on AgingMaureen SchneiderDementiaAlzheimer’s diseaseeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-645421" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-09-19T16:01:00ZThirty-seven organizations across Minnesota will use $4.4 million in state grant funds to support creativity and innovation as they assist people suffering from dementia-related illness.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Thirty-seven organizations across Minnesota will use $4.4 million in state grant funds to support creativity and innovation as they assist people suffering from dementia-related illness.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Increasing awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are the focus of the competitive grants administered by the Minnesota Board on Aging.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We celebrate the wonderful ideas offered by these grant applicants,” said Maureen Schneider, chair of the Minnesota Board on Aging. “Families dealing with dementia-related issues need our love and support. Sharing these funds with so many providers can make a difference for caregivers and those living with dementia.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Legislature has appropriated $750,000 in dementia grant funding each year since 2015. Additional one-time funding was recently added to support the expansion and improvement of respite services across the state.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Grants are listed below, by region.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><strong>Southern Minnesota</strong></p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>Bridges Health,</strong> Winona, $149,000. This project will utilize Winona State University health sciences students in integrating dementia awareness and caregiver support into its mobile operations, reaching three southeastern counties.</li> <li><strong>Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota,</strong> Winona, $31,000. Evidence-based health promotion and caregiving support programs for persons with memory loss and their family and friend caregivers will be offered in 10 counties in southern and southeastern Minnesota.</li> <li><strong>Family Service Rochester,</strong> Rochester, $132,000. Grant funds will allow continuing work to place dementia care specialists in senior centers and health care clinics to help caregivers identify and secure services and expand a pool of volunteer respite providers trained in Respite and Education Support Tools (REST).</li> <li><strong>Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota,</strong> $140,000. In partnership with Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, grant funds will support in-home, dementia-specific respite for up to 100 caregivers in eight southeastern Minnesota counties.</li> <li><strong>Madonna Towers - Benedictine Living Community,</strong> Rochester, $234,000. Project staff will take advanced dementia capability training and certification. Grant funds also support a sliding-scale overnight respite option for Rochester-area family and friend caregivers of people with dementia.</li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><strong>Central and northern Minnesota</strong></p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>A Home for the Day Adult Day Center,</strong> St. Cloud, $40,000. Grant funds will support adult day respite services and community outings, dementia education for family and friend caregivers and dementia education for staff, including REST respite training.</li> <li><strong>Age Well Arrowhead,</strong> Duluth, $250,000. Funding will support the hiring of 10 or more REST-certified respite care providers to increase the availability of in-home respite for dementia caregivers in the greater Duluth area.</li> <li><strong>Breath of Life Adult Day Service,</strong> Brainerd, $50,000. Grant funds will support bridge funding for adult day respite services for persons with dementia and their family and friend caregivers.</li> <li><strong>Central Minnesota Dementia Community Action Network,</strong> St. Cloud, $120,000. Funding will support comprehensive dementia education, screening and service navigation, dementia awareness education, and respite services for persons with dementia and their family-friend caregivers in Stearns, Benton and Wadena counties.</li> <li><strong>Community Partners Living at Home Program,</strong> Two Harbors, $114,000. The project will offer dementia education and awareness programming for the community and offer family and friend caregivers of persons with dementia engagement and respite support options to reduce isolation.</li> <li><strong>Health Equity Northland,</strong> Duluth, $50,000.With a focus on the African American and African heritage community, Health Equity Northland will increase dementia community awareness and education; adapt or create culturally relevant screening tools; conduct in-home wellness visits; and pilot strategies for culturally relevant activities and programs for people in Duluth care facilities.</li> <li><strong>Horizon Health,</strong> Pierz, $50,000. Serving primarily Morrison County, this effort will continue respite-focused outings for people with memory loss and their family or friend caregivers and expand this successful model into Todd County, an area lacking in dementia-specific services.</li> <li><strong>Koochiching Aging Options,</strong> International Falls, $39,000. Serving all of Koochiching County, grant funds will support continuing the Dementia Friendly initiative; offer one-to-one support and resource navigation for dementia caregivers; and increase the Connect Café and Memory Café attendance.</li> <li><strong>Lighthouse Center for Vital Living,</strong> Duluth, $80,000. This project will leverage expertise in adaptive technologies and occupational therapies to connect family and friend caregivers with assistive technology, caregiver resources and cognitive screening.</li> <li><strong>Montevideo Area Memory Loss Network,</strong> Montevideo, $49,000. Working in four counties, the project will offer dementia awareness and education via “Virtual Dementia Tours;” develop a weekly newspaper series about cognitive health, memory loss, support for caregivers and area resources; and launch a facilitated support group.</li> <li><strong>Northwoods Caregivers,</strong> Bemidji, $141,000. Grant funds will increase the availability of affordable respite and other supportive services to family and friend caregivers of persons with dementia in multiple northwestern Minnesota counties and Tribal areas.</li> <li><strong>Tri-Community Living at Home Program,</strong> Newfolden, $50,000. Serving far northwestern Minnesota, grant funds will enable the expansion of dementia capability services and caregiving support by piloting a Memory Café model; creating and distributing “Caregiving to Go” kits for dementia caregivers; and obtaining advanced staff training in dementia care and innovation.</li> <li><strong>Tri-Valley Opportunity Council,</strong> Crookston, $50,000. Serving an 11-county area, this project will offer community dementia awareness and education sessions; provide staff training and dementia specialist credentialing; and pilot a peer-to-peer caregiver support group.</li> <li><strong>Volunteer Services of Carlton County,</strong> Carlton, $250,000. Funding will support 2,500 hours of respite service through the DayBreak Group Respite in Carlton and St. Louis counties and explore adding another group respite program for caregivers in Pine County.</li> <li><strong>Wadena County Public Health,</strong> Wadena, $50,000. Working with community and clinical partners, the project will provide dementia education, awareness and resources to residents and offer dementia caregivers access to caregiver education and support, including respite education.</li> <li><strong>Western Prairie Human Services,</strong> Glenwood, $24,000. Grant funds will enable this provider to offer a volunteer-powered Memory Makers group respite program in two locations.</li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><strong>Twin Cities </strong></p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>African Career, Education,</strong> <strong>and Resources (ACER)</strong><strong>,</strong> Brooklyn Park, $50,000. This project will develop a resource booklet to fill a gap in culturally informed dementia awareness, dementia education and care resources for the African immigrant community in Minnesota and elsewhere.</li> <li><strong>CAPI USA,</strong> Brooklyn Center, $179,000. Continued development of the Hmong Folk Chorus will provide socialization and caregiver respite for Hmong-speaking elders in the Twin Cities metro.</li> <li><strong>Centro Tyrone Guzman,</strong> Minneapolis, $50,000. Centro will create a new evidence-informed dementia awareness and care curriculum for the Spanish-speaking community. The project is in partnership with the University of Minnesota Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation.</li> <li><strong>Cherished Services,</strong> Fridley, $50,000. Cherished Services will provide culturally tailored dementia capability training to professional and family and friend caregivers of persons with memory loss in the East African community. The organization will also pilot CareConnect, a multi-language scheduling application.</li> <li><strong>Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES),</strong> St. Paul, $120,000. CLUES will continue its flexible and accessible Mayores Mejores group program for isolated Latino elders that builds community, engages in brain-healthy activities and provides custom caregiver navigation support.</li> <li><strong>DARTS,</strong> West St. Paul, $195,000. DARTS will build on its two successful group dementia-capable respite locations, adding a third Breathing Space location in Dakota County to meet the needs of caregivers currently on wait lists for respite.</li> <li><strong>Division of Indian Work,</strong> Minneapolis, $150,000. Through its Mikwendaagozi (“To Be Remembered”) Project, the Division of Indian Work will develop culturally specific dementia education and resources to use in education sessions for non-Native providers.</li> <li><strong>Holistic Array of Authentic Services (HAAS),</strong> Golden Valley, $50,000. Funds will support culturally responsive dementia education and awareness, as well as respite education and support to older Oromo and Ethiopian adults and their family and friend caregivers in greater Minneapolis.</li> <li><strong>LiveLife Therapy Solutions,</strong> Bloomington, $34,000. Focusing on underserved dementia caregivers in rural areas, LiveLife Therapy Solutions will offer a series of presentations on the use of person-centered assistive technology to benefit people with dementia and their families and caregivers.</li> <li><strong>Metropolitan Community Services,</strong> Hopkins, $213,000. The grant project will enable an Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases awareness and caregiver support effort for Russian, Ukrainian and Uzbek-speaking persons and families in the Twin Cities.</li> <li><strong>North East Seniors for Better Living,</strong> St. Paul, $48,000. This project offers new, onsite respite programming for family and friend caregivers of persons with dementia living in the Greater East Side of St. Paul.</li> <li><strong>Renaissance Adult Day Care,</strong> Coon Rapids, $246,000. Funding will support an after-hours dementia-specific caregiver support group for families, enhanced staff training with cognitive therapies (including sensory and reminiscence therapies) and outreach to the area’s Ukrainian/Russian population.</li> <li><strong>SEWA-AIFW,</strong> Brooklyn Center, $264,000. Funds will help provide support for South Asians with dementia in the metro area while offering resources to their family and friend caregivers through support groups, practical education, cognitive screening and testing, and the piloting of a culturally tailored model of respite services.</li> <li><strong>Sod House Theater,</strong> St. Anthony, $59,000. “FIVE MORE MINUTES,” an original production portraying a couple’s experience with dementia, will travel to 10 or more Minnesota communities. Sod House Theater will also develop facilitated post-performance discussions.</li> <li><strong>Volunteers of America-Minnesota and Wisconsin,</strong> Minneapolis, $481,000. The project will pilot a culturally specific, holistic model of dementia care and serve 126 caregivers, mostly African American, with long-term support services. Volunteers will be trained using REST to provide care to 96 people with dementia over the two-year grant period.</li> <li><strong>Walker West Music Academy,</strong> St. Paul, $83,000. Twenty new caregivers and the people they provide care for will be enrolled in the acclaimed Amazing Grace Dementia Chorus. Family and friend caregiver choir participants will also receive tailored dementia-friendly tools and tactics from a music therapist.</li> </ul> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6454212025-02-07T22:14:28Z212178More than 200,000 long-term care workers may qualify for bonuses of up to $1,000 from the state of Minnesota. 01231319spenser.bickettdirect support professionalsJodi Harpsteadlong-term care workersMinnesota Care Force Incentiveeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-641129" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-08-15T16:01:00ZMore than 200,000 long-term care workers may qualify for bonuses of up to $1,000 from the state of Minnesota. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">More than 200,000 long-term care workers may qualify for bonuses of up to $1,000 from the state of Minnesota. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Direct support professionals are workers who support people with disabilities, aging Minnesotans and children with autism. They are sometimes known as personal care assistants, nursing home workers or other titles. Direct support professionals help people bathe, shower, get in or out of chairs, use the bathroom, eat and perform other daily activities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">With $84 million approved in 2023, the Minnesota Care Force Incentive program recognizes the essential work of direct support professionals. Funds will go to organizations that will pay bonuses to eligible employees in early 2025.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“These payments recognize our direct support workforce and how much we value their work,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We’re grateful the Legislature and Governor Tim Walz created this fund to help address one of our major workforce challenges.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Employers may submit applications for the Minnesota Care Force Incentive program between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30. The Minnesota Department of Human Services will contact provider organizations that qualify later this year. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Exact amounts of individual bonuses will depend on how many applications the state receives. The bonuses could be as high as $1,000 per direct support professional. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information: <a href="https://pcgus.jotform.com/team/mncareforce/portal" title="Minnesota Care Force Incentive Portal" target="_blank">Minnesota Care Force Incentive Portal</a> or <a href="https://pcgus.jotform.com/team/mncareforce/portal" title="https://pcgus.jotform.com/team/mncareforce/portal" target="_blank">https://pcgus.jotform.com/team/mncareforce/portal</a>. </p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6411292025-02-07T22:14:27Z212178The Aliveness Project will expand its service delivery as an HIV supports provider after reaching an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The agreement comes less than two weeks after the unexpected closure of Rainbow Health, which had been a leading HIV supports provider in Minnesota.01231319spenser.bickettDCTexecutive boardeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-639111" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-07-30T13:30:00ZThe Aliveness Project will expand its service delivery as an HIV supports provider after reaching an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The agreement comes less than two weeks after the unexpected closure of Rainbow Health, which had been a leading HIV supports provider in Minnesota.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Aliveness Project will expand its service delivery as an HIV supports provider after reaching an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The agreement comes less than two weeks after the unexpected closure of Rainbow Health, which had been a leading HIV supports provider in Minnesota. The loss of Rainbow Health left thousands of Minnesotans living with HIV without access to emergency assistance like rent checks, utility support, food access and insurance navigation.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“HIV support services are so important to the people who rely on them,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We’re grateful the Aliveness Project is willing and able to take on this critical work. We’re also thankful to our partners who worked with us to meet client needs while finding this solution.”  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Under the new agreement, the former Rainbow Health contract responsibilities will be transferred to the Aliveness Project, effective immediately, while working with partners to coordinate the details of the transition. Keeping people in stable housing and limiting any interruption of other basic life needs continues to be the priority of the state response.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">As Aliveness works to re-establish services, questions about immediate needs can continue to be directed to the Ryan White Programs Customer Care Line at DHS: 651-431-2398.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6391112025-02-07T22:14:25Z212178Applications are open for people interested in serving on the executive board of Minnesota’s state-operated behavioral health care system. Known as Direct Care and Treatment, the system serves more than 12,000 patients and clients each year at psychiatric hospitals and other inpatient mental health facilities, substance-use disorder treatment facilities, special care dental clinics and group homes for people with disabilities.01231319spenser.bickettDCTexecutive boardeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-638167" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-07-22T13:30:00ZApplications are open for people interested in serving on the executive board of Minnesota’s state-operated behavioral health care system. Known as Direct Care and Treatment, the system serves more than 12,000 patients and clients each year at psychiatric hospitals and other inpatient mental health facilities, substance-use disorder treatment facilities, special care dental clinics and group homes for people with disabilities.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Applications are open for people interested in serving on the executive board of Minnesota’s state-operated behavioral health care system.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Known as Direct Care and Treatment, or DCT, the system serves more than 12,000 patients and clients each year at psychiatric hospitals and other inpatient mental health facilities, substance-use disorder treatment facilities, special care dental clinics and group homes for people with disabilities.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Currently part of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, DCT will become a separate state agency on July 1, 2025. A nine-member executive board and a chief executive officer will oversee the new agency.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Governor Tim Walz will appoint six board members. The panel will also include the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services and two non-voting members, one appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties and one jointly appointed by labor unions representing DCT staff.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Secretary of State’s Office is managing the application process. For more information about the open board seats and qualifications for each position, or to apply, visit the office’s <a href="https://commissionsandappointments.sos.state.mn.us/Agency/Details/362" title="Boards and Commissions webpage" target="_blank">Boards and Commissions webpage</a> or <a href="https://commissionsandappointments.sos.state.mn.us/Agency/Details/362" title="https://commissionsandappointments.sos.state.mn.us/Agency/Details/362" target="_blank">https://commissionsandappointments.sos.state.mn.us/Agency/Details/362</a>.</p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" />6381672025-02-07T22:14:25Z212178The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking for public feedback on new draft child care licensing standards for family and center-based child care providers.01231319spenser.bickettJodi Harpsteadchild care licensingChild Care Regulation Modernization Projecteng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-627369" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-06-12T13:30:00ZThe Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking for public feedback on new draft child care licensing standards for family and center-based child care providers.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking for public feedback on new draft child care licensing standards for family and center-based child care providers. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The changes will be the first significant revisions to the child care licensing standards since the 1980s.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The current documents are drafts, and feedback is a crucial step in the process.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We are committed to a genuine, deliberate approach to implementing any new child care licensing standards,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “This is an opportunity to modernize Minnesota regulations in a way that improves the clarity of our regulations for providers while assuring health and safety for children.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In-person listening sessions for child care providers, licensors and the public will take place throughout the state in June and July. Times, dates and locations can be found on <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/licensing/child-care-and-early-education/child-care-regulation-modernization.jsp#2" title="the project webpage" target="_blank">the project webpage</a>. The events will be in person; RSVPs are requested.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">People can also weigh in on the draft standards through an <a href="https://us1se.voxco.com/SE/1145/DHS2024SURVEY/" title="online survey" target="_blank">online survey</a> through July 15. The survey will be used to gather input on the clarity, effort and value of the draft standards. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">DHS created the draft licensing standards in consultation with the National Association for Regulatory Administration, Minnesota state agencies and subject matter experts in child development, health and safety. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The state is sharing the draft standards now to allow time to gather important feedback from providers, licensors, parents and the general public. DHS will issue a revised draft this fall after gathering comments, with plans to present the revised draft to the Legislature next year. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Legislature would need to consider and pass the new standards, including establishing a start date. The legislative process includes additional opportunities for public engagement. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Updating the child care licensing standards is part of Minnesota’s Child Care Regulation Modernization Project. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/licensing/child-care-and-early-education/child-care-regulation-modernization.jsp" title="Child Care Regulation Modernization Project webpage" target="_blank">Child Care Regulation Modernization Project webpage</a></li> <li><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/draft-revised-family-child-care-licensing-standards-245j_tcm1053-620971.pdf" title="Family child care draft licensing standards (PDF)" target="_blank">Family child care draft licensing standards (PDF)</a></li> <li><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/draft-revised-child-care-center-licensing-standards-245k_tcm1053-620969.pdf" title="Child care center draft licensing standards (PDF)" target="_blank">Child care center draft licensing standards (PDF)</a></li> </ul>6273692025-02-07T22:14:24Z212178Thousands of Minnesotans covered by MinnesotaCare need to start paying monthly premiums again this summer to keep their insurance. Monthly premiums were paused during the pandemic.01231319spenser.bickettJodi HarpsteadMinnesotaCareMedical AssistanceRenewalseng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-626343" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-06-04T13:30:00ZThousands of Minnesotans covered by MinnesotaCare need to start paying monthly premiums again this summer to keep their insurance. Monthly premiums were paused during the pandemic.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Thousands of Minnesotans covered by MinnesotaCare need to start paying monthly premiums again this summer to keep their insurance. Monthly premiums were paused during the pandemic.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About 46,000 Minnesotans with lower incomes who rely on MinnesotaCare should watch their mail for a bill from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Enrollees must pay their premium by the due date on their bill to avoid losing coverage. The first bill is due June 13.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“MinnesotaCare serves Minnesotans facing financial struggles, so we want them to know about the return of this monthly bill,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “Our family, friends and neighbors on MinnesotaCare play important roles as farmers, child-care workers, small-business owners and more. We want to help them keep their coverage and their access to health care services and prescriptions.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Although MinnesotaCare premiums are returning, some Minnesotans will continue to pay no premium while others will have reduced premiums through the end of 2025, thanks to the federal Inflation Reduction Act. About 102,000 people are enrolled in MinnesotaCare.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">MinnesotaCare enrollees may be out of practice with paying premiums. MinnesotaCare premiums were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing economic relief to earners with the lowest incomes. The pause continued in 2023 while the state restarted annual eligibility checks known as renewals for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Enrollees who fail to pay their premium will receive a grace month of coverage before losing their insurance. Minnesotans can apply for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare coverage at any time with the help of a navigator or online at <a href="https://MNsure.org" title="MNsure.org" target="_blank">MNsure.org</a>. To re-enroll in MinnesotaCare coverage, people who have lost their insurance have to pay the past-due premium for the grace month and a premium for the future month of coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Visit the <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/adults/health-care/health-care-programs/programs-and-services/minnesotacare-premium.jsp" title="MinnesotaCare premiums page" target="_blank">MinnesotaCare premiums page</a> on the DHS website.</li> <li>Call DHS Health Care Consumer Support at 651-297-3862 or 800-657-3672.</li> <li>Enrollees can estimate their monthly premiums based on their annual income and family size using the <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-4139A-ENG" title="MinnesotaCare Premium Estimator Table (PDF)" target="_blank">MinnesotaCare Premium Estimator Table (PDF)</a>.</li> <li>More information about premium payments is also on the back of premium invoices.</li> </ul>6263432025-02-07T22:14:23Z212178New state grants totaling $4.6 million will support the important role played by family, friends and neighbors who provide child care for children in diverse communities across Minnesota.01231319spenser.bickettJodi Harpsteadchild careGrantseng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-626238" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-06-03T13:30:00ZNew state grants totaling $4.6 million will support the important role played by family, friends and neighbors who provide child care for children in diverse communities across Minnesota.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">New state grants totaling $4.6 million will support the important role played by family, friends and neighbors who provide child care for children in diverse communities across Minnesota.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Family, Friend and Neighbor Grants will go to 20 organizations whose services cover the entire state, including 11 Tribal Nations that share geography with Minnesota. With supports that vary by organization and prioritize the needs of individual communities, the grantees serve Somali, Latine, Hmong, African American, Oromo, American Indian, immigrant and refugee communities. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many families turn to relatives, friends and neighbors to meet their child care needs, such as grandparents who care for a new grandchild once a week or a neighbor who provides after-school care. The child care they provide may be unpaid or paid, part-time or full-time. These informal arrangements often enable parents to work nontraditional hours. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota had 82,700 family, friend and neighbor caregivers in 2019. However, many of these caregivers don’t consider themselves part of the child care workforce or know about the supports available to them.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Family members, friends and neighbors make up a significant portion of our child care workforce,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “As we work toward being the best state for children, it’s critical to recognize and support the child care they provide.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Family, Friend and Neighbor Grants became an ongoing part of the state budget in 2023, providing resources to help caregivers promote social-emotional learning and healthy development, early literacy, and other skills that help children thrive.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The grants are supporting caregivers and families with resources: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Culturally and linguistically appropriate training, support and resources to improve and promote children's health, safety, nutrition and learning</li> <li>Community resources to support families' physical and mental health and their economic and developmental needs</li> <li>Connections to early childhood screening programs and referrals to state and local agencies, schools, community organizations and medical providers</li> <li>Information about high-quality, community-based early care and learning programs, as well as financial assistance including the Child Care Assistance Program</li> <li>Information about registering as a legal nonlicensed child care provider and establishing a licensed family or group family child care program</li> <li>Transportation to educational and other early childhood training activities</li> <li>Translating materials and translation services </li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information, review the:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>DHS Family, Friend and Neighbor Minnesota website: <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/ffn-minnesota" title="mn.gov/dhs/ffn-minnesota" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/ffn-minnesota</a>.</li> <li>Report to the Legislature on the <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8497B-ENG" title="Family, Friend and Neighbor Grant Program (PDF)" target="_blank">Family, Friend and Neighbor Grant Program (PDF)</a> or <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8497B-ENG" title="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8497B-ENG" target="_blank">https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8497B-ENG</a>.</li> </ul>6262382025-02-07T22:14:22Z212178New state grants will address the ravages of opioid abuse by expanding treatment capacity and bolstering resources that strengthen communities and prevent opioid addiction.01231319spenser.bickettJodi HarpsteadOpioidsGrantseng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-626035" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-05-31T13:30:00ZNew state grants will address the ravages of opioid abuse by expanding treatment capacity and bolstering resources that strengthen communities and prevent opioid addiction.Funds will support workforce development, expand treatment access1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">New state grants will address the ravages of opioid abuse by expanding treatment capacity and bolstering resources that strengthen communities and prevent opioid addiction.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">With the growing presence of fentanyl contributing to an unprecedented number of drug overdose deaths, many Minnesotans need help – and urgently. The $20.1 million in new grants from the Minnesota Department of Human Services will expand services available to support people suffering from opioid use disorder and make it easier to get help.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The state's Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council recommended awards to the 28 grantees, with funding from Minnesota’s opioid epidemic response law.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Everyone who needs treatment for opioid use disorder deserves access to high-quality, culturally relevant care,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “This funding will help more Minnesotans get the care they need, while providing key resources to reduce harm and prevent addiction throughout the state.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Just over $7 million will go to initiatives that expand and enhance the continuum of care for opioid-related substance use disorders. Another $4 million will support workforce development initiatives and treatment training.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Grants will also fund emerging and innovative strategies for combating the opioid crisis. For instance, one program plans to connect clinicians and neuroscientists with the recovery community to help design clinically relevant, groundbreaking research on opioid use disorder.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Funding will support programs that focus on primary prevention and education; secondary prevention and harm reduction; and chronic pain and alternative treatments.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many of the investments will address gaps in Minnesota’s continuum of care for Native American people and people of color with opioid use disorder, while providing significant prevention and education services to diverse communities. Resources will go to organizations serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Greater Minnesota and Tribal Nations, as well as organizations that provide services statewide.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">To see a full list of grantees and activities, view this <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/opioid-epidemic-response-advisory-council-grantees-for-fiscal-year-2024_tcm1053-624432.pdf" title="overview of the 2024 grants (PDF)">overview of the 2024 grants (PDF)</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“There are many organizations working within the state of Minnesota to provide these services to the Minnesotans who need them,” said Dr. Kathy Nevins, chair of the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council. “We are proud to be able to fund these organizations and hope to do much more of it. There is no reason that a Minnesotan should die from a treatable illness, we need to connect them to the care they need.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The current awards are the third set of grants recommended by the council. Earlier rounds in 2022 and 2023 each totaled approximately $5 million.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In the coming months, the council will announce more funding recommendations and begin soliciting proposals for new funding.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information, visit the links below:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council grantees for Fiscal Year 2024: <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/opioid-grants-fy2024" title="mn.gov/dhs/opioid-grants-fy2024">mn.gov/dhs/opioid-grants-fy2024</a>. </li> <li>If you or someone you know is suffering from opioid use disorder, help is available. Visit <a href="https://knowthedangers.com/treatment-and-recovery" title="knowthedangers.com/treatment-and-recovery" target="_blank">knowthedangers.com/treatment-and-recovery</a> to learn about treatment options, or k<a href="https://knowthedangers.com/naloxone-finder/" title="nowthedangers.com/naloxone-finder" target="_blank">nowthedangers.com/naloxone-finder</a> to find naloxone near you.</li> </ul>6260352025-02-07T22:14:22Z212178When Minnesota’s post-pandemic public health care program renewals wrap up this spring, the state will restart a longstanding practice of checking some enrollees’ assets to make sure they are eligible for coverage. 01231319spenser.bickettJodi Harpsteadassisted livingeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-622430" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-04-30T13:30:00ZWhen Minnesota’s post-pandemic public health care program renewals wrap up this spring, the state will restart a longstanding practice of checking some enrollees’ assets to make sure they are eligible for coverage. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">When Minnesota’s post-pandemic public health care program renewals wrap up this spring, the state will restart a longstanding practice of checking some enrollees’ assets to make sure they are eligible for coverage. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Asset limits ensure that public health care programs pay for care only when no other resources are available.  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Many Medical Assistance enrollees do not have asset limits. The state will notify those who do.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For certain Medical Assistance and Medicare Savings Programs enrollees, assets will be reviewed when their annual renewal is due. If enrollees have more assets than the program limits, they will need to reduce or spend down their assets to keep their health care coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">A person’s home, vehicle and personal items do not count as assets during the renewal process. Assets that do count include checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, trusts, mutual funds, real property and other financial investments. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Our public health care programs serve Minnesotans who most need our support to access health care,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We want to get the word out about asset limits now to give enrollees time to act to keep their health insurance.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Annual eligibility checks – often called renewals – were paused by the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic. States resumed renewals in 2023 in an effort called the unwinding period.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Asset limits for public health care programs were temporarily disregarded by the Legislature to help eligible Minnesotans maintain health insurance during the unwinding period. The asset limits resume after the unwinding period.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Asset limits differ depending on program and family size. Medical Assistance and Medicare Savings Programs enrollees who have an asset limit will receive a notice in the mail about two months before their renewal month reminding them that assets will be counted for their upcoming renewal. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Enrollees can look up their renewal month at <a href="https://www.mnrenewallookup.com" title="www.mnrenewallookup.com" target="_blank">www.mnrenewallookup.com</a>.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The notice will explain that if enrollees have assets above program limits, they will need to reduce or spend those assets by their renewal deadline to keep their health care coverage. The notice will also remind enrollees to save documents that show proof of their assets, such as bank statements, to send in with their renewal form. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For a breakdown of asset limits, visit the <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-3461A-ENG" title="Income and Asset Guidelines (DHS-3461A) (PDF)" target="_blank">Income and Asset Guidelines (DHS-3461A) (PDF)</a> at <a href="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-3461A-ENG" title="https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-3461A-ENG" target="_blank">https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-3461A-ENG</a>. </p>6224302025-02-07T22:14:25Z212178Minnesota is taking an innovative approach to support new Americans to develop careers in the long-term care workforce.01231319spenser.bickettJodi Harpsteadassisted livingeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-614669" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-03-19T13:30:00ZMinnesota is taking an innovative approach to support new Americans to develop careers in the long-term care workforce.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota is taking an innovative approach to support new Americans to develop careers in the long-term care workforce.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The state will offer grants to organizations to support new Americans to get and keep jobs and grow careers in long-term care. Applications for the first round of grants are open as of today (March 19).  </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">With a workforce shortage impacting care providers across Minnesota, the grants will simplify the path to long-term care careers for people born outside the U.S. regardless of their immigration status.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“These grants bring together a great opportunity with a tremendous human resource,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We’re grateful the Legislature and Governor Walz created this tool to help new Americans while addressing one of our major workforce challenges.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Grants will go to organizations that can connect new Americans with employment, help them navigate language and cultural barriers, and provide supportive services like training and licensing. Funds will also support career enhancement and growth, including services like transportation and child care supports.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The first round of grant applications will be open until May 6. The Minnesota Department of Human Services will announce the grant awards later this year.</p>6146692025-02-07T22:14:25Z212178Minnesotans shopping for assisted living can now turn to a valuable new resource for help. The state’s new Assisted Living Report Card allows consumers to look up assisted living residences and find comparative ratings based on resident and family surveys, as well as ratings based on state inspections. 01231319spenser.bickettJodi Harpsteadassisted livingeng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-608011" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-01-29T14:30:00ZMinnesotans shopping for assisted living can now turn to a valuable new resource for help. The state’s new Assisted Living Report Card allows consumers to look up assisted living residences and find comparative ratings based on resident and family surveys, as well as ratings based on state inspections. 1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesotans shopping for assisted living can now turn to a valuable new resource for help.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The state’s new <a href="https://alreportcard.dhs.mn.gov/" title="Assisted Living Report Card" target="_blank">Assisted Living Report Card</a> allows consumers to look up assisted living residences and find comparative ratings based on resident and family surveys, as well as ratings based on state inspections.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Modeled after Minnesota’s longstanding and successful <a href="https://nhreportcard.dhs.mn.gov/" title="Nursing Home Report Card" target="_blank">Nursing Home Report Card</a>, the Assisted Living Report Card is designed to deliver useful information to help consumers make decisions about assisted living. Nearly 63,000 Minnesotans live in more than 2,200 licensed assisted living facilities across the state.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Nearly four years in the making, the newly launched web tool is a work in progress. The Assisted Living Report Card currently features ratings for about 20% of the state’s assisted living facilities – focusing on the largest facilities, which are home to almost half of all Minnesotans who use assisted living. The report card will expand early next year, adding more facilities and ratings based on the Minnesota Department of Health’s licensing surveys and investigations.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Looking for an assisted living residence for yourself or a loved one can be stressful and challenging,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We hope that this tool will help people make this important choice, recognizing that there are many factors to consider.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Authorized by Governor Tim Walz and the 2019 Legislature, the Assisted Living Report Card was developed through a partnership among the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Minnesota Board on Aging, and the Department of Health.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Dr. Tetyana Shippee at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health led research and development of the quality measures.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the state to build this resource for consumers,” said Shippee. “Minnesota once again is leading in pioneering a data-driven, evidence-informed tool for consumers seeking assisted living options. I am honored to contribute to this much-needed initiative.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Assisted living is licensed and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Health. The Assisted Living Report Card is managed by DHS and the Minnesota Board on Aging, which also conducts the resident and family surveys. The quality measures developed by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health are based on state data and calculated into the report card measures.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><a href="https://alreportcard.dhs.mn.gov/" title="Minnesota Assisted Living Report Card" target="_blank">Minnesota Assisted Living Report Card</a></li> <li><a href="https://nhreportcard.dhs.mn.gov/" title="Minnesota Nursing Home Report Card" target="_blank">Minnesota Nursing Home Report Card</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sph.umn.edu/" title="University of Minnesota School of Public Health" target="_blank">University of Minnesota School of Public Health</a></li> </ul>6080112025-02-07T22:14:20Z212178Beginning on Jan. 1, Minnesota children got more stable access to Medicaid health insurance. A new continuous eligibility policy for children will help provide a healthier and more equitable start for the youngest Minnesotans.01231319spenser.bickettMedicaidJodi HarpsteadMedical AssistanceRenewalseng<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-605470" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2024-01-02T16:20:51ZBeginning on Jan. 1, Minnesota children got more stable access to Medicaid health insurance. A new continuous eligibility policy for children will help provide a healthier and more equitable start for the youngest Minnesotans.1053<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Beginning on Jan. 1, Minnesota children got more stable access to Medicaid health insurance.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">A new continuous eligibility policy for children will help provide a healthier and more equitable start for the youngest Minnesotans. All children under age 19 who are eligible for Medical Assistance will have 12 months of continuous coverage at a time. Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid program.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This important change will prevent paperwork issues due to temporary changes in a parent’s income from disrupting a child’s health insurance. Families with low and moderate incomes may experience fluctuations in income during a year that briefly exceeds the Medicaid limit because of temporary employment, variable work hours or occasional overtime pay.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Continuous eligibility will help prevent unnecessary, harmful and expensive gaps in children’s health care coverage,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “This policy will go a long way toward helping Minnesota kids reach their full potential.” </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Signed into law in 2023 by Governor Tim Walz, continuous eligibility promotes and supports health equity by preventing gaps in needed care. Minnesota has significant racial disparities in health outcomes, with Black and Hispanic children more likely to experience gaps in coverage.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Medical Assistance in Minnesota covers: </p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li>64% of Black children</li> <li>54% of American Indian/Alaskan Native children</li> <li>52% of Hispanic/Latino children </li> <li>31% of Asian children</li> <li>17% of white children</li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Better access to preventive care may lead to healthier children and ultimately result in lower spending in public health care programs, since identifying and treating issues early can reduce the need for costlier treatments.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Although children in Medical Assistance will maintain coverage for a year at a time, they will still be subject to annual eligibility renewals. Renewals were suspended during the COVID-19 emergency but have since resumed. To avoid gaps in coverage, Medical Assistance enrollees are urged to update their contact information and watch their mail for important renewal paperwork. </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For more information about Medical Assistance renewals, visit <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage" title="mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage" target="_blank">mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage</a>.<span style="font-family: Verdana;">                                                            </span></p>6054702025-02-07T22:14:20Z