Fall 2022 Edition

Legislative Updates:

• January 1, 2023. Rate and Budget Changes:
  1. 8.8% increase to AC/EW monthly CDCS budgets
  2. 3% increase to home care nursing rate
  3. NO increase to PCA rate (incl. rate for paid parents of minors and spouses).

• Mileage Reimbursement currently 62.5 cents/mi. and may increase effective 1/1/23.
• Federal Peacetime Public Health Emergency Renewed on Oct. 13, 2022 for another 90 days. This continues many health and social services practices implemented during the COVID 19 epidemic. Once this policy is lifted, your case manager will let you know how this may affect you.
• For a FULL list of legislative changes go to: Legislative Updates Grid Fall 2022)

 
Reminders When Renewing CDCS Plans:
Get your CDCS Renewal Plan in EARLY.

• Submit your new CDCS Plan to your case manager at least 2-3 weeks in advance of the start date to be assured it has been FULLY reviewed and approved in time.
• Use last year’s budget to get started if you have not gotten the current year’s budget. Don’t let not having an updated budget slow the process.
• Early submission also allows time for revisions to occur prior to the start date.
• Services or goods are not approved until the plan has been reviewed FULLY.
• Anoka County has up to 30 days to review a plan.
• Failure to submit a plan prior to the start date will result in no payment of staffing and services until it is received and moving forward (no back pay). A Notice of Technical Assistance will be issued.

Multiple Waiver Participants in the Same Household MUST use the same FMS and provide a Family Schedule.
It is the county’s role to monitor safe staffing patterns and assure rules are being followed. The only way to do this is to see a “snapshot in time” typical schedule listing all waiver participants, staff, and when staff are working with each participant. If shared care is happening, Edoc 6633D must also be completed. All participants must use the same FMS which helps track overlap and overtime. Sample family schedules and templates can be found on the website in the Forms and Guidelines section .

New to Anoka County???
If you have transferred into Anoka County recently, we welcome your attendance at one of our CDCS Orientations (not required but highly encouraged). Each county runs CDCS a little differently and we would like you to get off to a good start in Anoka County by learning our policies and procedures. Let your case manager know that you would like to attend. Of course, those that have already taken the training are also welcome to take it again. There is a lot of information presented.
 
Other Updates & News:
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Is Here: The federal government requires FMS providers to use electronic visit verification systems to document that participants are receiving the services (e.g. staffing) that are billed to the state. This means that staff will need to use an app system on their phone, tablet, or computer to track and document their work time. The information needed includes the following:

• Type of service performed
• Who received the service
• Date of service
• Location of service delivery
• Who provided the service
• When the service begins and ends.

Household members are exempt from utilizing the location function of the app but still must manually go into the app and record the actual times and dates they worked. If you have not yet been contacted or trained by your FMS, watch for more information.
College Tuition Available for Staff Who Meet Income Guidelines. The Minnesota Department of Human Services continues to offer Minnesota Future Together Grants. These grants offer tuition-free pathways for students in high-need career areas. Many direct support professionals who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree are likely to qualify for these grants. Go Here for more information.

Waiver Reimagine Update and CDCS: Under Waiver Reimagine, self-direction options will expand. While CDCS in name only will no longer exist, all people will have the option to self-direct all, some or none of their services. People will not feel they have to choose between "traditional" and self-directed services. A person's budget will be based on their needs and not on how they choose to receive their services. Once a person is assigned to a support range (budget), then they will get to choose whether they self-direct all, some or none of their disability waivered services. People with similar needs on the same waiver will have the same budget amount, regardless of whether they self-direct or not. For more information go to the Waiver Reimagine Website. The current projected rollout is in 2026.

Need More Staff? - (All staff need to be hired through the FMS once secured)
Care.com https://www.care.com
DHS Direct Support Connect https://directsupportconnect.com/
Career Force Career Force Blog
 
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