Minnesotans who rely on assistance from the Aging and Adult Services Division (AASD) and Disability Services Division (DSD) will soon need to take note of a significant update that will impact how they submit documents to the state's Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). Starting May 1, these divisions will no longer accept forms via fax, and this method of communication to submit Service Agreement and Screening Documents (SASD) will be completely phased out. According to an announcement, provider and agency staff should be aware of this change and prepare to transition to alternative means of data entry.
On a different note, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has recently announced a grant opportunity to bolster the long-term care (LTC) workforce by supporting new Americans. The deadline for applications is May 6. This initiative seeks to enable the integration and career progression of new Americans in the LTC field. Interested organizations that work with new Americans, along with LTC providers and workforce entities, are encouraged by the DHS to apply for this chance to make a lasting difference in their communities.
Moreover, the DSD has highlighted its selection of provider organizations for the 2024 Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS) cost reporting cycle, with the selections taking place on March 27. This cycle is an important aspect of ensuring appropriate funding and support for organizations that provide critical services to individuals with disabilities.
Training and informational events also form a significant part of the DHS’s efforts to support providers and families. The community found value in a recent webinar, held on April 3, which shed light on how assistive technology can profoundly influence and improve the lives of those receiving services. However, the movement to blend the worlds of disability and aging will have to wait just a bit longer, as the Odyssey webinar, which was originally scheduled for April 4, has been postponed with no new date set as of yet. Stakeholders are instructed to stay tuned for the announcement of a new date for this much-anticipated event.
To stay updated on the array of policies and initiatives by the AASD and DSD, providers and interested parties should keep a close watch on the Community-Based Services Manual, which lists recent updates on relevant policies and pages. For more details and a thorough understanding of these updates, including the archival records, the public can access important information through the DHS website.
