Winter 2023 Edition

NEW Participant Orientation Video GOES LIVE!

• If interested in trying the CDCS Option, watch our YouTube video and other Supplemental Trainings at  https://www.anokacountymn.gov/3311/CDCS - Trainings
• Don’t forget to SIGN UP to receive our Quarterly Newsletters – Click on the Stay Informed Link.

LEGISLATIVE CHANGES:

In the 2023 legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature, MN Department of Human Services (DHS), and the SEIU Union approved several rate and budget increases for home and community-based services beginning or continuing 1/1/24. Your case manager will contact you with your increased budget amount and you will receive a revised service agreement notification in the mail. Mandatory changes will automatically be processed by your FMS and may require further action. For any additional changes to your CDCS Plan, work with your FMS and Support Planner using Anoka County’s typical change process/Addendum Form. Follow any additional required procedures through your FMS to implement the changes.

              CDCS Budget Increases:

             Increases will be applied to mandatory changes, then in unallocated

• 8.49% increase to DD, CADI, BI, and CAC CDCS budgets
• 32.63% increase AC/EW monthly CDCS case mix budget

              Mandatory/Automatic changes FMS will process (NO ACTION REQUIRED):

• Adding and/or increasing paid time off (PTO) to ALL staff at a rate of 4.65% of payroll
  • Staff earn 1 hour of PTO for every 30 hours worked.
• Increasing minimum wage to $19/hour for any staff hired through FMS (includes parents of minors and spouses).
• Paying 1.5x wage if work on any of the following holidays: New Years Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth(new), Independence Day(new), Labor Day, Veteran’s Day(new), and Thanksgiving Day. Floating holidays were eliminated.

Mandatory changes requiring an Addendum:

Optional changes requiring an Addendum:

• Increasing wages for parents of minors (PPOM) or spouses being paid as staff up to a maximum of $22.74/hr. for 1:1 services (PCA rate of $23.80/hr. minus PTO benefit)
  • Up to maximum of $34.16/hr. for 1:2 Shared Services
  • Up to maximum of $44.94/hr. for 1:3 Shared Services
• Increasing Support Staff wages up to $23.80/hour
• Increasing Support Staff wages above $23.80/hr. requires justification and supervisor/coordinator approval.
• Allocating more funds in Personal Assistance to cover staff working on new holidays
• (If applicable) Allocate more Support Planner funds to assist with making changes.

Note:  In order to increase wages, you will need county approval (unless mandatory) AND complete additional paperwork through your FMS prior to the increase taking effect.

If you do nothing with your budget increase, the funds remaining after the mandatory changes will remain in unallocated until/if you request a change using the Addendum Form and process. Any unused funds will not be carried over into the next plan year. 

Current UNAPPROVED proposed legislative changes still needing federal approval:

• Increased Weekly hourly caps for PPOM/Spouses:
  • Up to 80 hours/week when more than 1 parent is providing services, with no more than 40 hours/week per person
  • Up to 60 hours/week when ONLY 1 parent is providing services. This will require overtime costs.

Note: Participants will be notified when this change is federally approved. Implementing this requested change is NOT automatic and will still require an Addendum and county approval based on the service needs of the participant.

Current Federal Mileage Rate:

• Many licensed waiver service rates were increased but will not take affect until your next plan renewal.
• https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/news-initiatives-reports-workgroups/long-term-services-and-supports/ltss-rates/

Available Stipends for ALL staff hired through FMS:

• $500 Training Stipend

  1. Home - DSW Training (minnesotadswtraining.com) 
  2. Go To Requirements Tab: Choose Option 2, 3, OR 4 
  3. Trainings are FREE through Direct Course (make account)
  4. After complete courses, create profile and send transcripts to Apply For Benefits (top of page)
  5. Will need 10 digit UMPI number from FMS or check paystub
  6. If English is not your primary language, apply by creating a profile on the Direct Support Workers Training Benefits site/Apply For Benefits button and have a person who is able to communicate in English send an email to the DSW administrator explaining your language needs.

• DHS | Retention Stipend Application (formsite.com)
• Need 10 digit UMPI number from FMS or check paystub and social security number
• Available to staff that have worked 6 months or more

• $200 Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Stipend
  • https://fs10.formsite.com/togevents/evvstipend/index 
  • Designed to offset the potential cost of using individual devices to access EVV systems for time reporting.
  • Available if worked 6 month or more
  • Need 10 digit UMPI number from FMS or check paystub

Environmentally Accessibility Adaptations (EAA) Increase for AC/EW

Contact your Case Manager and/or FMS if you have any further questions. 

 OTHER REMINDERS:

Bunching of hours when being paid as a parent of a minor or spouse is not recommended

• Spread your hours out over the week when you are performing personal assistance activities that are above and beyond usual parental responsibilities or typical spousal duties.
• The appropriate number of hours should be based on the person’s assessed needs and when they are performed. 
• To determine the appropriate number of hours each day, start with the number of extra hours needed to help with activities or daily living (ADL’s)/PCA assessment + instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) + Behavioral Redirection + Additional Supervision
• With electronic visit verification (EVV) time reporting, you must record the time you actually worked on daily basis.

When there are other’s in the home also receiving services?

• Submit household schedule including all participants and ALL staff and when they work with each person
• Consider whether it make sense to do shared services
• Consider getting on the same renewal schedule
• Consider working with one case manager for the entire family (if it is an option)
• Assure the household participants are all using the same FMS
• Follow Labor Laws

There is a Revised MnCHOICES Tool that may be used for your next assessment

• It takes less time to complete the assessment
• The budget amount may be higher or lower
• If budget decreases without a decrease in assessed needs, ask your case manager to check into it more. You always have the right to appeal 

Alternative Therapies & Specialized Services requirements

• Forms must be signed MHCP Provider (Physician, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner) and include Provider Number
• Gym memberships require annual form and monitoring from primary physician (adults only).

Stay Informed:

• Sign Up for The State E-List. Individuals can sign up to receive information directly from the state when changes are about to happen. Go to http://mn.gov/dhs/media/news-from-dhs
• Previous Anoka County Newsletters can be found on the website
• Other General information about CDCS:
  • Consumer -Directed Community Supports Page (DHS)
  • CDCS Policy Manual
  • MHCP Provider Manual (What Does MA Cover?) 
  • Community Based Services Manual (CBSM)
  • EAA (Home and Vehicle modifications) Frequently Asked Questions

                   HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!