WHAT'S NEW IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS???? November/December 2017

OPTIONAL WAGE INCREASE - Beginning January 2018 Anoka County will allow the "customary and reasonable rate" to be $12-$16.95/hour for direct care staff and the "specially trained/experienced rate" to be $16.95-$20/hour (rationale for the higher wage must be clearly documented in the plan or in an addendum). The maximum for paid parents of minors/spouse on the payroll model remains at $16.95/hour.

OPTIONAL MILEAGE RATE INCREASE FOR 2018 - The federal mileage rate is increasing from 53.5 cents/mile to 54.5 cents/mile beginning January 2018. You may pay your staff at or anything below this rate as agreed upon.

BUDGET CHANGES WITH MnCHOICES ASSESSMENT (DD ONLY) - All renewals require a MnCHOICES assessment moving forward by a Long Term Services & Supports (LTSS) assessor from Anoka County.  An assessor will contact you 1-2 months prior to when your new plan starts. Remember that accuracy is very important as this assessment is what ultimately determines your CDCS budget. You may notice a significant increase or decrease in your budgets. If your budget amount changes significantly, you may ask your case manager to look into it.  This is a new process with a large volume of cases; you may be delayed in getting your budget amount.  If so, you can still begin the renewal process by working off of the previous year's budget and then adjust it when the new amount comes in.

ELIGIBILITY REMINDER - Following are requirements in order to participate in the CDCS option:  Open to MA; participant/managing party not ever been on the DHS Restricted List; all direct care staff pass background study; not open to child/adult protection; not residing in a licensed facility/home (hospital, nursing home, jail, group home).

PPOM/SPOUSE = Personal Assistance Activities and Supervision ONLY - PPOM and Spouse MUST have at least ONE ADL dependency to be eligible to be paid.  They should only be getting paid to provide assessed ADL activities and supervision above and beyond what is typical.

MAJOR ANOKA COUNTY GUIDELINE CHANGES IN 2017:

• Internet now allowed - $10-$20/mo.(see specifics in guidelines)
• Bio and adopted children of foster care providers may use CDCS (see specifics about whether parents may get paid)
• Added:  Person Centered Planning
• Added:  Language around restraints and seclusion
• Community Activities - WAC may decide to pay for all or partial activities on case by case basis
• SEIU changes - 1.5 for holidays, 20% increase for grads, PTO increase, minimum wage increase, etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS REMINDERS:

• Consultation Services is required for all major home modifications (except AC/EW)
• $5000 is required to be taken out of your CDCS budget each plan year that you are doing home or vehicle modifications. Be planful.
• $40,000 of needed modification funds are available each plan year (or a NEW exception process may be approved by DHS to borrow into the next service plan year).

YOU SPOKE. WE LISTENED.  Thanks for those responding to the participant survey. In 2017, the following changes occurred:

• increased the length of orientation class to allow for more questions/interaction,
• communicated more information regularly through our monthly newsletter,
• provided other contacts/resources to you to improve awareness of what is going on legislatively and so you have more of a voice (See below)

In 2018, we are proposing the following, so stay tuned...

• Online and evening training options
• Quarterly Advance Training and/or Speaker
• Multi-Lingual handouts

CDCS BUDGET INCREASE - Effective August 1, 2017, your budget will be prorated by 1.642% to account for SEIU/DHS changes:
- Minimum wage increase to $12/hour
- PTO fee increase to 2.65% and PTO benefit increase of 1 hr./43 hrs. worked
- Holiday pay required at 1.5% on the following holidays:  Labor Day, Thanksgiving, New  Year's, MLK, Memorial Day

Your FSE will automatically make these changes and send a new budget worksheet.  If there are any funds leftover, follow the typical process for making changes. You will also see the increased budget amount on your MA notification from DHS.

PPOM/SPOUSE INCOME MAY AFFECT OTHER PROGRAMS - Even though your income may not be taxed other cash and food based programs may still count it as income.  Please check with each individual program and/or your Economic Assistance worker about how this income may affect your benefits.  PTO is taxable income.

PARENTAL FEE FOR TEFRA (FOR CHILDREN) DECREASE BY 13% (passed Summer 2017)

NEW MEDICAL MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS (beginning Sept. 1, 2017) - You will need to contact MTM to get a trip number prior to the appointment to record on the trip log. Logs will need to be turned in for reimbursement within 60 days.  Go to www.mtm-inc.net for more information. The number can be found on the back of your card or call member services.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FORMS -

• Please have physician or nurse practitioner initial the boxes or form is considered incomplete
• Must be completed annually
• Service not approved until form completed and approved by case manager

CHECK OUT THE NEW "RECOMMENDED" RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE - Go to http://www.anokacounty.us/2783/Resources and check out all the cool new resources that CDCS participants have recommended in the past several months. It includes different therapies, apps for autism and transition skills, summer programs, GPS trackers, adaptive clothing, and more.

ARE YOU WORKING WITH MULTIPLE PARTICIPANTS ON CDCS? If you are a paid parent(s) of a minor, you may only work a maximum of 40 hours/week combined between ALL minor children, parents/guardians and their plans. If you have adult children, the maximum is 40 hour/week for EACH parent/guardian. If you have one minor and one adult child you still cannot go over 40 hours/week for an individual parent and cannot go over 40 hours combined for the minor child between multiple parents.  An individual parent is not able to work more than 40 hours/week period based on labor laws.

ON CDCS AND THINKING OF BECOMING A FOSTER CARE PROVIDER?  There has been a policy change.  If your biological or adopted child is using the CDCS option you can get paid to provide foster care AND remain on CDCS, but CANNOT use the paid parent of minor (PPOM) option.  Exception:  You can be paid up to 25 hours/week for your child if you are providing foster care to a relative.  The children you are providing foster care are not eligible for CDCS. Ask your case manager for more information.

THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU!  Just a quick reminder...CDCS is a self directed program.  As the managing party you are ultimately responsible for making sure you complete your paperwork ON TIME (incl. CDCS plan submission, MA renewals, etc.) and DO NOT OVERSPEND!  Please make sure you are reviewing your spending summary every month to avoid overspending and any consequences. Pay attention to the %'s to make sure you are staying on track so you don't run out of money towards the end of your plan year. Your case manager, FSE coordinator, and/or support planner are there to help and give you the tools to keep you on track but it is ultimately your responsibility.

CONSIDER CHANGING FISCAL MODELS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER – At some point (likely sometime in 2018) everyone on CDCS will need to use the Participant Employer model (currently referred to as the Payroll/FEA Model).  You may want to consider switching to this model upon one of your next renewals if you are not currently using this model.  Please contact your FSE at least 2-4 weeks prior to your renewal if you plan to switch models to allow enough time to complete paperwork and process the change. Your accrued PTO will automatically be moved to the new model upon the switch.  Ask your FSE for more information about the benefits/ramifications of changing models as sometimes it makes sense to stick with AWC model.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON LEGISLATIVELY IN THE DISABILITY WORLD?  Consider connecting to the following organizations:
- MN Department of Human Services at https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/publications- 
  forms-resources/bulletins/ ;
- Autism Society https://www.autismspeaks.org/resource/autism-society-minnesota ;
- PACER http://www.pacer.org/legislation/ ;
- The ARC of Minnesota http://www.thearcofminnesota.org/current-issues/ ;
- NAMI http://www.namihelps.org/nami-minnesotas-2017-legislative-goals.html .

MINNESOTA ABLE PLAN - Minnesotans with disabilities and their families can now save for goods and service to improve their lives under the new Minnesota (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Plan. The plan allows a maximum of $14,000/yr, to a total maximum of $100,000, to be contributed to an account for an individual before the individual's public benefits are affected.  For more information visit https://savewithable.com/mn/home.html . 

FREE SMARTPHONES AND FREE DATA AVAILABLE FOR QUALIFYING ADULTS - Go to www.safelinkwireless.com  for more information.

ARE YOU A GRADUATE?  Ask your case manager about a 20% budget increase to help with vocational activities and/or day programming.

GET AN IPAD USING CDCS - Medical assistance will cover the cost of tablets when the primary use is for voice output communication.  Your speech and language pathologist may complete the paperwork needed.  Your case manager may also submit a letter requesting the tablet be "unlocked" in order to use other appropriate applications for such uses as emotional regulation, scheduling, fine motor skills, etc.  Ask your case manager for help with this process.  The waiver may pay for tablets that are denied by MA and still meet Anoka County guidelines (Complete Computer/Tablet Request form).

CDCS FORMS & INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.  Visit www.anokacounty.us/CDCS.  The new and revised "fillable" forms should now be used.  Toss away the old ones.  New forms include:  Addition/Addendum – general or PPOM/spouse, Computer/Tablet Request, Special Diet Request, Alternative or Specialized Treatment Form, Positive Behavior Plan, Non-Disability Camp Request Form, etc.  See the Forms and Guidelines section.

NON-DISABILITY CAMP REQUEST FORM (NEW) - For day and overnight camps that are not specifically geared towards those with disabilities, a new form must be completed describing how the camp will be adapted to meet the participant's assessed needs and how the health and safety needs of the participant will be met.

CELL PHONES & MINUTES NO LONGER ALLOWED - In today’s world a cell phone is a typical family/personal expense. Waiver funds are for items needed above and beyond what is typical and related to the disability.  Most adults qualify for free cell phones with minutes.  FREE resources include:  www.lifewireless.com or http://www.assurancewireless.com/ Public/Welcome.aspx) , and www.safelinkwireless.com

PLANNING A VACATION? You are still able to utilize staffing, both PPOM/Spouse or support staff along even out of state (not out of the country).  No other supports or services are available besides staffing however outside of the state of MN or its bordering states.

HOSPITAL OR NURSING HOME STAY?  During a hospital/nursing home stay, CDCS services cannot be used.  However, if staff worked prior to admission and/or after discharge on the same day, they can still get paid for their time.