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Chapter 256B

Section 256B.49

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256B.49 HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE WAIVERS FOR DISABLED.

Subdivision 1.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 2.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 3.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 4.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 5.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 6.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 7.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 8.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 9.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 10.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 76]

Subd. 11.Authority.

(a) The commissioner is authorized to apply for home and community-based service waivers, as authorized under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act to serve persons under the age of 65 who are determined to require the level of care provided in a nursing home and persons who require the level of care provided in a hospital. The commissioner shall apply for the home and community-based waivers in order to:

(i) promote the support of persons with disabilities in the most integrated settings;

(ii) expand the availability of services for persons who are eligible for medical assistance;

(iii) promote cost-effective options to institutional care; and

(iv) obtain federal financial participation.

(b) The provision of waivered services to medical assistance recipients with disabilities shall comply with the requirements outlined in the federally approved applications for home and community-based services and subsequent amendments, including provision of services according to a service plan designed to meet the needs of the individual. For purposes of this section, the approved home and community-based application is considered the necessary federal requirement.

(c) The commissioner shall provide interested persons serving on agency advisory committees, task forces, the Centers for Independent Living, and others who request to be on a list to receive, notice of, and an opportunity to comment on, at least 30 days before any effective dates, (1) any substantive changes to the state's disability services program manual, or (2) changes or amendments to the federally approved applications for home and community-based waivers, prior to their submission to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(d) The commissioner shall seek approval, as authorized under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, to allow medical assistance eligibility under this section for children under age 21 without deeming of parental income or assets.

(e) The commissioner shall seek approval, as authorized under section 1915(c) of the Social Act, to allow medical assistance eligibility under this section for individuals under age 65 without deeming the spouse's income or assets.

Subd. 12.Informed choice.

Persons who are determined likely to require the level of care provided in a nursing facility or hospital shall be informed of the home and community-based support alternatives to the provision of inpatient hospital services or nursing facility services. Each person must be given the choice of either institutional or home and community-based services using the provisions described in section 256B.77, subdivision 2, paragraph (p).

Subd. 13.Case management.

(a) Each recipient of a home and community-based waiver shall be provided case management services by qualified vendors as described in the federally approved waiver application. The case management service activities provided will include:

(1) assessing the needs of the individual within 20 working days of a recipient's request;

(2) developing the written individual service plan within ten working days after the assessment is completed;

(3) informing the recipient or the recipient's legal guardian or conservator of service options;

(4) assisting the recipient in the identification of potential service providers;

(5) assisting the recipient to access services;

(6) coordinating, evaluating, and monitoring of the services identified in the service plan;

(7) completing the annual reviews of the service plan; and

(8) informing the recipient or legal representative of the right to have assessments completed and service plans developed within specified time periods, and to appeal county action or inaction under section 256.045, subdivision 3.

(b) The case manager may delegate certain aspects of the case management service activities to another individual provided there is oversight by the case manager. The case manager may not delegate those aspects which require professional judgment including assessments, reassessments, and care plan development.

Subd. 14.Assessment and reassessment.

(a) Assessments of each recipient's strengths, informal support systems, and need for services shall be completed within 20 working days of the recipient's request. Reassessment of each recipient's strengths, support systems, and need for services shall be conducted at least every 12 months and at other times when there has been a significant change in the recipient's functioning.

(b) Persons with developmental disabilities who apply for services under the nursing facility level waiver programs shall be screened for the appropriate level of care according to section 256B.092.

(c) Recipients who are found eligible for home and community-based services under this section before their 65th birthday may remain eligible for these services after their 65th birthday if they continue to meet all other eligibility factors.

Subd. 15.Individualized service plan.

(a) Each recipient of home and community-based waivered services shall be provided a copy of the written service plan which:

(1) is developed and signed by the recipient within ten working days of the completion of the assessment;

(2) meets the assessed needs of the recipient;

(3) reasonably ensures the health and safety of the recipient;

(4) promotes independence;

(5) allows for services to be provided in the most integrated settings; and

(6) provides for an informed choice, as defined in section 256B.77, subdivision 2, paragraph (p), of service and support providers.

(b) When a county is evaluating denials, reductions, or terminations of home and community-based services under section 256B.49 for an individual, the case manager shall offer to meet with the individual or the individual's guardian in order to discuss the prioritization of service needs within the individualized service plan. The reduction in the authorized services for an individual due to changes in funding for waivered services may not exceed the amount needed to ensure medically necessary services to meet the individual's health, safety, and welfare.

Subd. 16.Services and supports.

(a) Services and supports included in the home and community-based waivers for persons with disabilities shall meet the requirements set out in United States Code, title 42, section 1396n. The services and supports, which are offered as alternatives to institutional care, shall promote consumer choice, community inclusion, self-sufficiency, and self-determination.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2003, the commissioner shall simplify and improve access to home and community-based waivered services, to the extent possible, through the establishment of a common service menu that is available to eligible recipients regardless of age, disability type, or waiver program.

(c) Consumer directed community support services shall be offered as an option to all persons eligible for services under subdivision 11, by January 1, 2002.

(d) Services and supports shall be arranged and provided consistent with individualized written plans of care for eligible waiver recipients.

(e) A transitional supports allowance shall be available to all persons under a home and community-based waiver who are moving from a licensed setting to a community setting. "Transitional supports allowance" means a onetime payment of up to $3,000, to cover the costs, not covered by other sources, associated with moving from a licensed setting to a community setting. Covered costs include:

(1) lease or rent deposits;

(2) security deposits;

(3) utilities set-up costs, including telephone;

(4) essential furnishings and supplies; and

(5) personal supports and transports needed to locate and transition to community settings.

(f) The state of Minnesota and county agencies that administer home and community-based waivered services for persons with disabilities, shall not be liable for damages, injuries, or liabilities sustained through the purchase of supports by the individual, the individual's family, legal representative, or the authorized representative with funds received through the consumer-directed community support service under this section. Liabilities include but are not limited to: workers' compensation liability, the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), or the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA).

Subd. 16a.Medical assistance reimbursement.

(a) The commissioner shall seek federal approval for medical assistance reimbursement of independent living skills services, foster care waiver service, supported employment, prevocational service, and structured day service under the home and community-based waiver for persons with a traumatic brain injury, the community alternatives for disabled individuals waivers, and the community alternative care waivers.

(b) Medical reimbursement shall be made only when the provider demonstrates evidence of its capacity to meet basic health, safety, and protection standards through the following methods:

(1) for independent living skills services, supported employment, prevocational service, and structured day service through one of the methods in paragraphs (c) and (d); and

(2) for foster care waiver services through the method in paragraph (e).

(c) The provider is licensed to provide services under chapter 245B and agrees to apply these standards to services funded through the traumatic brain injury, community alternatives for disabled persons, or community alternative care home and community-based waivers.

(d) The commissioner shall certify that the provider has policies and procedures governing the following:

(1) protection of the consumer's rights and privacy;

(2) risk assessment and planning;

(3) record keeping and reporting of incidents and emergencies with documentation of corrective action if needed;

(4) service outcomes, regular reviews of progress, and periodic reports;

(5) complaint and grievance procedures;

(6) service termination or suspension;

(7) necessary training and supervision of direct care staff that includes:

(i) documentation in personnel files of 20 hours of orientation training in providing training related to service provision;

(ii) training in recognizing the symptoms and effects of certain disabilities, health conditions, and positive behavioral supports and interventions;

(iii) a minimum of five hours of related training annually; and

(iv) when applicable:

(A) safe medication administration;

(B) proper handling of consumer funds; and

(C) compliance with prohibitions and standards developed by the commissioner to satisfy federal requirements regarding the use of restraints and restrictive interventions. The commissioner shall review at least biennially that each service provider's policies and procedures governing basic health, safety, and protection of rights continue to meet minimum standards.

(e) The commissioner shall seek federal approval for Medicaid reimbursement of foster care services under the home and community-based waiver for persons with a traumatic brain injury, the community alternatives for disabled individuals waiver, and community alternative care waiver when the provider demonstrates evidence of its capacity to meet basic health, safety, and protection standards. The commissioner shall verify that the adult foster care provider is licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265; that the child foster care provider is licensed as a family foster care or a foster care residence under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.3000 to 2960.3340, and certify that the provider has policies and procedures that govern:

(1) compliance with prohibitions and standards developed by the commissioner to meet federal requirements regarding the use of restraints and restrictive interventions;

(2) documentation of service needs and outcomes, regular reviews of progress, and periodic reports; and

(3) safe medication management and administration.

The commissioner shall review at least biennially that each service provider's policies and procedures governing basic health, safety, and protection of rights standards continue to meet minimum standards.

Subd. 17.Cost of services and supports.

(a) The commissioner shall ensure that the average per capita expenditures estimated in any fiscal year for home and community-based waiver recipients does not exceed the average per capita expenditures that would have been made to provide institutional services for recipients in the absence of the waiver.

(b) The commissioner shall implement on January 1, 2002, one or more aggregate, need-based methods for allocating to local agencies the home and community-based waivered service resources available to support recipients with disabilities in need of the level of care provided in a nursing facility or a hospital. The commissioner shall allocate resources to single counties and county partnerships in a manner that reflects consideration of:

(1) an incentive-based payment process for achieving outcomes;

(2) the need for a state-level risk pool;

(3) the need for retention of management responsibility at the state agency level; and

(4) a phase-in strategy as appropriate.

(c) Until the allocation methods described in paragraph (b) are implemented, the annual allowable reimbursement level of home and community-based waiver services shall be the greater of:

(1) the statewide average payment amount which the recipient is assigned under the waiver reimbursement system in place on June 30, 2001, modified by the percentage of any provider rate increase appropriated for home and community-based services; or

(2) an amount approved by the commissioner based on the recipient's extraordinary needs that cannot be met within the current allowable reimbursement level. The increased reimbursement level must be necessary to allow the recipient to be discharged from an institution or to prevent imminent placement in an institution. The additional reimbursement may be used to secure environmental modifications; assistive technology and equipment; and increased costs for supervision, training, and support services necessary to address the recipient's extraordinary needs. The commissioner may approve an increased reimbursement level for up to one year of the recipient's relocation from an institution or up to six months of a determination that a current waiver recipient is at imminent risk of being placed in an institution.

(d) Beginning July 1, 2001, medically necessary private duty nursing services will be authorized under this section as complex and regular care according to sections 256B.0651 and 256B.0653 to 256B.0656. The rate established by the commissioner for registered nurse or licensed practical nurse services under any home and community-based waiver as of January 1, 2001, shall not be reduced.

Subd. 18.Payments.

The commissioner shall reimburse approved vendors from the medical assistance account for the costs of providing home and community-based services to eligible recipients using the invoice processing procedures of the Medicaid management information system (MMIS). Recipients will be screened and authorized for services according to the federally approved waiver application and its subsequent amendments.

Subd. 19.Health and welfare.

The commissioner of human services shall take the necessary safeguards to protect the health and welfare of individuals provided services under the waiver.

Subd. 20.Traumatic brain injury and related conditions.

The commissioner shall seek to amend the traumatic brain injury waiver to include, as eligible persons, individuals with an acquired or degenerative disease diagnosis where cognitive impairment is present, such as multiple sclerosis.

Subd. 21.Report.

The commissioner shall expand on the annual report required under section 256B.0916, subdivision 7, to include information on the county of residence and financial responsibility, age, and major diagnoses for persons eligible for the home and community-based waivers authorized under subdivision 11 who are:

(1) receiving those services;

(2) screened and waiting for waiver services; and

(3) residing in nursing facilities and are under age 65.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 16 by Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 4, article 7, section 44, is effective upon federal approval and to the extent approved as a federal waiver amendment. Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 4, article 7, section 44, the effective date.

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