Spring 2025 Edition

CDCS Unbundling – What you need to know

• For those that have their MnCHOICES Assessment on or after Feb. 1, 2025, you must transition to “undbundling” rules and documents upon your renewal.
• If you are brand new to CDCS on or after Feb. 1, 2025, you must use the unbundling rules and documents.
• For those still not transitioned to the unbundling plan and rules, continue to follow pre-unbundled rules and service categories until your next renewal.
• Unbundling Definition: Redefining CDCS service categories to keep “like” items together. The 4 service categories were split into 8 service categories. Following, are some of the changes:
  • Personal Assistance (Staffing Category only)
    • Job duties worksheet must be completed for paid parents of minors/spouses
    • Remote support is an option
    • More information needed for requesting bonuses
  • Treatment and Training
    • Need to verify licenses, credentials, or certifications when required by state law. If not required, participant must define qualifications in the plan
    • Cannot add additional MA covered services (e.g. OT, PT)
  • Environmental Mods and Provisions split into 3 categories:
    • Home Modifications – no changes
    • Vehicle Modifications – no changes
    • Individual Directed Goods and Services
      • Internet services not allowed
      • Only “adaptive” clothing allowed (not replacement clothing)
      • Special Diets - Waiver funds do not pay for food items themselves, so coverage is limited to the extra cost of additional or specialized foods.  Submit a list to your case manager for approval.
        • For example, if a person is prescribed a lactose-free diet, they can use waiver funds to pay the additional costs needed for the lactose-free food product (e.g., cost difference between a regular gallon of milk and a lactose-free gallon of milk).
      • Modifications to recreational activities - CDCS funds can pay for additional costs of a camp, sports, leisure, hobby or craft class/session that has been modified, adapted or specialized to meet the person’s disability and/or condition-related needs (e.g., special instructor, additional staffing, smaller class size, adaptive equipment). Because these activities are considered recreational in nature and normally paid for by the person or their parents/family, coverage is limited to any additional costs when they exceed the cost without modifications/ adaptations.
        1. In addition, CDCS funds can be used to support the person to participate in these activities by paying a worker to:
        2. Transport the person to the activity (both the driver’s time and their mileage) when the person is unable to transport themselves (excluding parents of minors).
        3. Accompany the person to the activity and support them with any assistance needed (paid).
  • Self Direction Support Services split into 2 categories:
    • FMS – only includes monthly fee
    • Support Planner – no changes.
      • Reminder, we need either a copy of the SP certification or expiration date in the plan.
  • (NEW) Community Integration and Support (Staffing Category only) 
    • Definition: Services that focus specifically on successful participation in community membership.
    • Examples: Self-designing day support services to connect with community members; self-design independent living skills training; volunteer experiences focused on community contribution; participate in local community events, support groups, organizations/clubs, associations or neighborhood groups.
    • If paid staff perform both personal assistance and community integration activities, place the staff person’s hours/wages in the category that fits their primary job duties. You do not need to split an individual staff’s time between both categories (choose one category for individual staff)
• Participants, case managers and support planners, will need to utilize the CDCS Policy Manual Pages for more details regarding which category each good or service fits in and for more clarifications about what is allowable/nonallowable in each category.
• Watch the new Video: CDCS: Is it right for you? For a brief description of CDCS and the new categories.
• New Forms:
  • CDCS Community Support Plan - CDCS CSP, DHS-5788A - For use beginning Feb. 1, 2025 for initial plans and those assessed Feb. 1, 2025 or later.
  •  CDCS Behavioral Supports Request Form, DHS-5788B - NEW
  • CDCS Specialized Therapy Request Form, DHS-5788C – Replaced Alternative Treatment Form
  • ·  CDCS Special Diet Request Form, DHS-5788D - Replaced DHS Alternative Treatment Form and Anoka County’s Specialized Diet form

Other CDCS Changes:

Making Revisions to CDCS Plan - Effective April 15, 2025, all revisions must come in on their respective CDCS Plans with a new signature page. Complete the section in BOTH the pre-unbundled and unbundled CDCS plans specifically for revisions. The revision section should include a running total of revisions throughout the plan year.

CDCS Legislative Changes (effective immediately)

Creating own documents/forms/policies - Lead agencies cannot create or implement any policies that are in addition to or inconsistent with DHS policies.

• Anoka County has removed from the website our expenditure guide and other forms/guides that we created ourselves. The remaining pages include:
  • Forms and Guides: CDCS Policy Manual Links, DHS form links, and Resources for Support Planners and FMS’s
  • Newsletters – current and previous
• Providing Budget Methodology Information - Lead agencies are required to provide participants with CDCS budget information. Your case manager will send you a letter whenever your budget has been updated by DHS (e.g. new MnCHOICES assessment). If you have any questions about the budget amount (e.g. a decrease from previous year), reach out to your case manager.