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Approximately 100,000 Minnesotans will save up to $52 a month on their MinnesotaCare premiums through the end of 2022.
The premium relief benefits low-income workers who have experienced some of the most severe economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reductions stem from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and were approved this year by the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Tim Walz. MinnesotaCare covers people who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford other health insurance.
Until January 2023, people with incomes under 160% of the federal poverty level of won’t have to pay premiums for MinnesotaCare. People whose incomes fall between 160% and 200% of the federal poverty level will pay reduced premiums.
“Every little bit helps,” Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead said. “The pandemic has made it harder for people to keep up with their health care bills, along with all the other bills. Making MinnesotaCare more affordable leaves more money in their pockets to care for themselves and families.”
Read more in the department's Sept. 23 news release.
Minnesota child care providers have begun applying for monthly direct payments to stabilize their businesses, as part of a $300 million state grant program that will last through June 2023.
“Minnesota’s economy depends on the availability of child care,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “By stabilizing the child care industry and putting more money in child care workers’ pockets, these grants support a critical sector of our workforce.”
Another key change starts in November, when the state will raise reimbursement rates for the Child Care Assistance Program. The program currently serves more than 30,000 children each month. Additional stimulus fund investments totaling $55 million are estimated to reach 4,000 more children during the next three years.
Read more in the Governor's Office Sept. 22 news release.
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National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week (Sept. 12 to 18) honors the support staff, direct care workers, personal care assistants and other direct support professionals who improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Direct support professionals perform essential work, helping people with personal care and daily activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, going to the toilet and getting around. They also prepare meals, do light housekeeping, administer medications, help people find jobs, manage challenging behaviors and support people to use assistive technology.
“Their important work doesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” said Gertrude Matemba-Mutasa, assistant commissioner for the Community Supports Administration. “They are absolutely critical to the daily care of many thousands of Minnesotans.”
With Minnesota facing a shortage of direct support professionals, demand for workers is high. Direct support experience can lead to other careers, including in education, accessible technology development, human services, construction and building design, and communications.
For more information about this type of work, visit the Direct Support Connect job board at DirectSupportConnect.com.
 In honor of Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week from Sept. 12 to 18, we asked a few of our own employees who are former DSPs what they learned doing this important work and how it impacted their careers.
Eliud Korir worked as a DSP in a number of group homes supporting adults who needed assistance with activities of daily living, either due to physical challenges or mental health issues.
DSP experience provides a good foundation toward many health care career fields, Korir said. "I never thought I would be a nurse until I started working as a direct support professional." In addition, he said, "being a direct support professional is more than just having a job. It teaches you how to be person-centered, how to be patient, how to care, how to be compassionate, and how to interact appropriately with people."
If you are interested in this type of work, visit the Direct Support Connect job board at DirectSupportConnect.com.
To see more posts like this and for timely updates on DHS news and events, follow DHS on Twitter and Facebook.
For accessible formats of this publication or assistance with additional equal access to human services, write to dhs.communications@state.mn.us, call 651-431-2911, or use your preferred relay service.
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