1998 Minnesota Statutes

     256B.0912 Alternative care and waivered service programs.

    Subdivision 1.    Restructuring plan.  By January 1, 
 1996, the commissioner shall present a plan to the legislature 
 to restructure administration of the alternative care, elderly 
 waiver, and disabled waiver programs.  The plan must demonstrate 
 cost neutrality and provide counties with the flexibility, 
 authority, and accountability to administer home and 
 community-based service programs within predetermined fixed 
 budgets.  To support this local program administration, the 
 commissioner shall explore options with the health care 
 financing administration to assure flexibility to expand core 
 services within the elderly and disabled waivers as long as cost 
 neutrality is maintained. 

    Subd. 2.    Waiver program modifications.  The 
 commissioner of human services shall make the following 
 modifications in medical assistance waiver programs, effective 
 for services rendered after June 30, 1995, or, if necessary, 
 after federal approval is granted: 

    (a) The community alternatives for disabled individuals 
 waiver shall: 

    (1) if medical supplies and equipment or adaptations are or 
 will be purchased for a waiver services recipient, allow the 
 prorating of costs on a monthly basis throughout the year in 
 which they are purchased.  If the monthly cost of a recipient's 
 other waivered services exceeds the monthly limit established in 
 this paragraph, the annual cost of the waivered services shall 
 be determined.  In this event, the annual cost of waivered 
 services shall not exceed 12 times the monthly limit calculated 
 in this paragraph; 

    (2) require client reassessments once every 12 months; 

    (3) permit the purchase of supplies and equipment costing 
 $150 or less without prior approval of the commissioner of human 
 services.  A county is not required to contract with a provider 
 of supplies and equipment if the monthly cost of supplies and 
 equipment is less than $250; and 

    (4) allow the implementation of care plans without the 
 approval of the county of financial responsibility when the 
 client receives services from another county. 

    (b) The traumatic brain injury waiver shall: 

    (1) require client reassessments once every 12 months; 

    (2) permit the purchase of supplies and equipment costing 
 $250 or less without having a contract with the supplier; and 

    (3) allow the implementation of care plans without the 
 approval of the county of financial responsibility when the 
 client receives services from another county. 

    Subd. 3.    Rate consolidation and equalization.  (a) 
 The commissioner of human services shall use one maximum 
 reimbursement rate for personal care services rendered after 
 June 30, 1997, regardless of whether the services are provided 
 through the medical assistance program, the alternative care 
 program, and the elderly, the community alternatives for 
 disabled individuals, the community alternative care, and the 
 traumatic brain injury waiver programs.  The maximum 
 reimbursement rate to be paid must be the reimbursement rate 
 paid for personal care services received under the medical 
 assistance program on June 30, 1997. 

    (b) The maximum reimbursement rates for behavior 
 programming and cognitive therapy services provided through the 
 traumatic brain injury waiver must be equivalent to the medical 
 assistance reimbursement rates for mental health services. 

    HIST: 1995 c 207 art 6 s 62; 1997 c 203 art 4 s 35