 If you have questions or comments about this newsletter or its contents, please contact your case manager.
 CDCS policy change about hours of paid personal assistance services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved DHS’ waiver amendment to increase the number of hours per week a spouse or parent of a minor can be paid as follows:
- If one parent provides personal assistance services to their minor child(ren), the parent may provide up to 60 hours of paid support in a seven-day period.
- If more than one parent provides personal assistance services to their minor child(ren), each parent may provide up to 40 hours of paid support in a seven-day period.
- If a person’s spouse provides personal assistance services, the spouse may provide up to 60 hours of paid support in a seven-day period.
For more information, refer to CDCS Manual – Paying a spouse or parent of a minor for personal assistance.
When can a PPOM or Spouse choose this option?
All PPOM/Spouses will not automatically be able to choose to work 60 hours (one parent or spouse) or 40 hours each (two parents). This is an “up to” option. When reviewing requests, the lead agency must ensure:
- Services fall within the description and allowable costs of the personal assistance services category.
- Service hours meet the basic waiver criteria for allowable expenditures.
- Paid tasks are not activities a spouse or parent of a minor would ordinarily perform or be responsible to perform.
- Requested revisions are within the person’s budget amount.
How is this change implemented?
-
Determine if your budget can support an increase in staffing hours. Remember, when one parent provides the personal assistance or a spouse provides personal assistance, anything over 40 hours/week, will need to be budgeted as overtime.
-
Determine how many hours of support are needed and complete a job description. Paid Parents of Minors may choose to use the Paid Parent of Minor Job Description found on our website to assist in quantifying the hours needed.
- It’s helpful to examine PCA assessment results and build off those needs to include more of the IADL, supervisory, and behavioral needs.
- For spouses, if not for their disability/condition they would otherwise be completely independent, so any personal assistance activity needs including supervision would be approvable.
- For PPOM, do not include typical parental responsibilities such as meal prep, cooking, grocery shopping, community activities, transportation to medical appts, etc. (Unless above and beyond typical parenting duties)
- Include information about whether personal assistance is needed during the nighttime (e.g., toileting needs, behavior redirection, etc.).
- Add household duties related to person’s assessed needs (e.g., extra cleanup duties, extra laundry, etc.)
- Do not include unpaid duties such as performing medical cares. However, staff may be able to be paid for additional health related supervision needs beyond what is typical.
- Include additional supervision needs based on medical condition, behavioral needs, safety needs, etc.
- More care might be needed in the summer when school is out of session.
-
Complete a work Schedule:
- Provide an updated schedule including PPOM/Spouse and any other Support Staff working throughout the week.
- If there are multiple participants receiving services in the household, include ALL staff and participants on the same schedule.
- Must match the hours requested in the plan and cannot overlap.
- For PPOM, there should be time in the day without staffing for activities that are “parental responsibility”, school, etc. (Shorter shifts throughout the day, rather than full days)
-
Complete and submit an addendum/revised plan along with the updated Job Description and work schedule to your case manager for approval. Do not start submitting additional hours until after the hours are approved. We are unable to backdate. The approval date will be the date you submit the request to your case manager.
Implications For Paid Parents of Adults (PPOA)
As long as the participant requires support over 40 hours/week, the participant/managing party can choose the PPOA to provide that support, even if it results in overtime. Each case will be looked at individually.
Overtime for other personal assistance staff
Occasional overtime is allowed if planned for and approved in the CDCS Plan. Regular or excessive overtime is not typically the least costly and most effective way to meet a person’s needs. It is often more cost effective to hire additional staff to meet staffing needs. Documentation is needed to justify the need for overtime. Sometimes additional staffing can be difficult to obtain due to the staff shortage, high medical needs, high behavioral needs, etc. Each situation will be assessed individually.
 1/1/24 CDCS Budget Increases Update
FMS agencies continue to work tirelessly to apply all of the mandatory changes following the 1/1/24 budget increases. Once that is done, additional funds can be allocated. In the meantime, if you need to make a change to your plan, connect with your FMS, case manager, and support planner. (Does not apply to plans that renewed 1/1/24, 2/1/24, and 3/1/24, as the full increase was applied to these plans and plans included mandatory changes.)
MnCHOICES 2.0 and CDCS Budgets
You may have heard that MnCHOICES assessments are now being completed in a new tool. This new tool has a lot of intentional changes to ensure a more accurate assessment of needs, as well as some unknown changes. As more CDCS recipients are assessed in MnCHOICES 2.0, we are seeing some significant increases and decreases to CDCS budget amounts. If there are significant changes to a CDCS budget, the case manager will compare the new assessment to the previous one, as well as consult with assessor to ensure accuracy. MnCHOICES will continue to communicate glitches or problems with the tool to DHS as they arise.
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Update
- Participation in EVV is mandatory. Work with your FMS agency to implement.
- Ask your FMS for additional help or training if having difficulties.
- Family members living with the participant must still enter their time electronically but do not have to use the GPS location feature.
- DHS is pursuing other options for those unable to submit their time sheets electronically.
- If you have not yet been contacted or trained by your FMS, watch for more information. You can find out more information on the DHS website.
Seizure Detection Devices
MA is now covering seizure detection devices! CDCS participants should pursue MA. If denied through MA, depending on the reason for denial, you can request through CDCS. Learn more.
 Stipends Available
-
Training Stipend: Available only for workers in PCA Choice, CSG and CDCS who complete qualifying training before June 30, 2025. A worker may receive a $500 stipend starting July 1, 2023, until the $2 million of stipend funding is exhausted or June 30, 2025, whichever comes sooner. Stipends are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more.
-
Home Care Recruitment & Retention Stipend: $1,000 - All workers in Union programs (PCA Choice, CSG, CDCS, and CFSS Budget Model) now qualify for a one-time $1,000 retention stipend after 6 months of employment! This includes PCAs, Family Caregivers, and Paid Parents. Eligible workers who apply will receive a check in the mail, as well as a 1099 tax form. Workers can apply until May 30, 2025. Apply now.
-
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Stipend - $200: All workers in PCA Choice, CSG, CDCS and CFSS Budget Model qualify for a one-time $200 to offset potential costs related to using individual devices to access electronic visit verification. Apply now.
MnCHOICES Documents
Support planners have confirmed that they have not been receiving MnCHOICES docs when renewing CDCS plans. Case managers, please remember to send the following MnCHOICES docs to support planners as soon as you get them. This is to ensure that CDCS services and supports are related to the assessed needs.
-
Current MnCHOICES Docs- CSP and MnCHOICES Eligibility Summary
-
MnCHOICES 2.0- Assessment Results (Supplemental Summary Chart) and the Supplemental Form
CDCS Plan Renewals
With the start of EVV, CDCS plan renewals will need to be received and approved prior to the renewal date, or there could be a GAP in services. CDCS Service Agreements will be entered in the month PRIOR to the renewal and case managers have been trained to approve staffing only, should we need more time to review a plan. Please follow these “best practices” to ensure services are not interrupted:
Participants/Managing Parties
- Schedule your MnCHOICES assessment as soon as you can when contacted by the assessor.
- 60 days before the renewal date, write your CDCS plan using previous year’s budget.
- Contact your case manager if you don’t get the CDCS budget by the 12th of the month prior to renewal.
- Update the plan with the budget from the case manager, tweak goals as needed after reviewing the MnCHOICES assessment and submit your plan by the 15th of the month prior.
- Submit the plan even if waiting on additional documentation, as these items can likely be pended until the information is received.
-
Participant Guide to CDCS is a helpful guide for all things CDCS.
-
Participant Guide for Completing a CDCS Plan is a checklist you can use if writing your own plan.
Case managers/Supervisors:
Follow guidance in the CDCS Processes and Procedures document.
 CDCS Participant Training
New participants need to watch both the DHS and Ramsey County orientation trainings prior to starting CDCS. It is recommended that current participants watch annually as a refresher. CDCS participants who are NEW to Ramsey County should watch as well!
English: DHS Training Video
Ramsey County Participant Training
Spanish: Passcode +Ng54LlA
Hmong: Passcode U926$!PB
Somali: Passcode a8RM1FR&
Karen
Case Manager/Supervisor
Training
-
“Intro to CDCS” is a 3-part training that is mandatory for new case managers and new supervisors. In addition, there are several “topical” trainings available. All trainings are recorded and available on the website under “Training."
CDCS Consults (Case managers and supervisors)
2nd and 4th Tuesdays @ 11 am
CDCS link - 2nd Tuesday
CDCS link - 4th Tuesday
 Work and Benefits Presentation
This presentation will provide information on Work and Benefits, conducted by Disability Hub MN and hosted by MICC via Zoom.
Work and benefits can go together to support your goals. Every benefit in Minnesota has work incentives. These special rules let you get a benefit while working, keep a benefit longer while you work, or get the benefit back quickly if it stops due to work. Most people who get benefits and go to work end up better off financially — even if their benefits go down.
This presentation will give an overview of the basics and resources available.
Date: Tuesday, March 26
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Register
 Helpful CDCS Documents
Participant Guide to CDCS
Participant Guide for Completing a CDCS Plan
General Information About CDCS
MN Department of Human Services (DHS)
Ramsey County Human Services
CDCS Policy Manual
MHCP Provider Manual (Does MA cover?)
Community Based Services Manual (CBSM)
EAA (Home and Vehicle Modifications) Q&A
Nursing Q&A
Translated Ramsey County CDCS Policy Guidelines
RC Policy Guidelines- English
RC Policy Guidelines- Spanish
RC Policy Guidelines-Hmong
RC Policy Guidelines-Somali
RC Policy Guidelines-Karen
 Need More Staff?
All staff need to be hired through the FMS once secured.
College Tuition Resource for Direct Care Staff
The Minnesota Future Together Grants-College tuition for direct support workers that meet income guidelines.
Person Centered Planning
A person centered planner, helps a person develop/create a life plan to help them reach their goals and achieve their dreams in life. Contact The ARC Minnesota
Cell Phone Programs
Autism Resource
DHS Culture Specific Autism videos and Resources Portal:
|
