|
Date: June 6, 2024
To: All interested parties
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services and Disability Services divisions, on behalf of DHS Health Care Administration
Purpose: To announce an opportunity for the public to comment on the Reform 2020 waiver extension request related to the Alternative Care program
This message is forwarded on behalf of DHS Health Care Administration.
The MN Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to submit a waiver extension request to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval to continue the Minnesota Reform 2020: Pathways to Independence waiver (Reform 2020). Reform 2020 is authorized under section 1115 of the Social Security Act as a demonstration waiver and is currently approved through January 31, 2025. DHS is requesting an extension of the waiver for the period of February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2030. DHS proposes in the extension request to rename the waiver to Reform: Pathways to Independence, add the effective date of October 1, 2024 for Community First Services and Supports, and add transitional services as a covered benefit.
Background
The Reform waiver provides Medicaid funding for the Alternative Care program which covers home and community-based services for older adults with limited assets. To be eligible, the participant must be age 65 or older, meet the nursing facility level of care criteria, not yet be eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) due to being over the MA income and asset limits, and have excess income and assets that are insufficient to pay for 135-days of nursing facility care.
The services covered by Alternative Care are based on the individual assessed needs of the participant and are authorized in a person-centered support plan. The services available are a subset of home and community-based services covered under Minnesota’s Elderly Waiver which is available to people age 65 or older who are eligible for MA. Additionally, three services that are not covered under the Elderly Waiver are covered under Alternative Care: conversion case management, nutrition services and discretionary services.
Public comment opportunity
A summary of the Reform waiver extension request, the full request to be submitted to CMS, and the most current waiver evaluation are available for review on the DHS website. The website also includes information about opportunities to comment, including two scheduled public hearings in June. Written comments are due by July 3, 2024.
|
