HF 3919

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/03/2022 02:04pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; directing the commissioner to develop a medical
assistance waiver service for life sharing; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin DIRECTION TO THE COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES;
LIFE-SHARING SERVICES.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Recommendations required. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall
develop recommendations for establishing life sharing as a covered medical assistance
waiver service.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, "life sharing" means a
relationship-based living arrangement between an adult with a disability and an individual
or family in which they share their lives and experiences while the adult with a disability
receives support from the individual or family using person-centered practices.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Stakeholder engagement and consultation. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must
proactively solicit participation in the development of the life-sharing medical assistance
service through a robust stakeholder engagement process that results in the inclusion of a
racially, culturally, and geographically diverse group of interested stakeholders from each
of the following groups:
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new text begin (1) providers currently providing or interested in providing life-sharing services;
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new text begin (2) people with disabilities accessing or interested in accessing life-sharing services;
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new text begin (3) disability advocacy organizations; and
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new text begin (4) lead agencies.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner must proactively seek input into and assistance with the
development of recommendations for establishing the life-sharing service from interested
stakeholders.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner must provide a method for the commissioner and interested
stakeholders to cofacilitate public meetings. The first meeting must occur before July 31,
2022. The commissioner must host the cofacilitated meetings at least monthly through
December 31, 2022. All meetings must be accessible to all interested stakeholders, recorded,
and posted online within one week of the meeting date.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Required topics to be discussed during development of the
recommendations. new text end

new text begin The commissioner and the interested stakeholders must discuss the
following topics:
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new text begin (1) the distinction between life sharing and adult family foster care;
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new text begin (2) successful life-sharing models used in other states;
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new text begin (3) services and supports that could be included in a life-sharing service;
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new text begin (4) potential barriers to providing or accessing life-sharing services;
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new text begin (5) solutions to remove identified barriers to providing or accessing life-sharing services;
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new text begin (6) potential medical assistance payment methodologies for life-sharing services;
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new text begin (7) expanding awareness of the life-sharing model; and
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new text begin (8) draft language for legislation necessary to define and implement life-sharing services.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report to the legislature. new text end

new text begin By December 31, 2022, the commissioner must
provide to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and
senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over direct care services a report
summarizing the discussions between the commissioner and the interested stakeholders and
the commissioner's recommendations. The report must also include any draft legislation
necessary to define and implement life-sharing services.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; LIFE-SHARING SERVICES.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated to the commissioner of human services for
engaging stakeholders and developing recommendations regarding establishing a life-sharing
service under the state's medical assistance disability waivers and elderly waiver. This is a
onetime appropriation.
new text end