The Aging and Adult Services Division (AASD) and the Disability Services Division (DSD) have announced their latest updates and policy changes in their joint weekly digest. Among the highlights, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has greenlit an Elderly Waiver (EW) amendment package, set to take effect in the new year, according to an announcement posted on December 30th.
Outlined in the report intended for lead agency staff and parties of interest, starting January 1, 2026, both DHS and managed care organizations (MCOs) will accept requests from lead agencies for the new EW hospital high-needs budget exception, provided certain criteria are fulfilled as reported by the DHS bulletin. Meanwhile, service providers can anticipate an operating payment rate increase for intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities (ICF/DD), also effective with the turn of the calendar year.
Furthermore, the 2025 MnCHOICES benchmarks annual data report has been published, showcasing data from the prior calendar year. These metrics are instrumental for lead agency staff and other stakeholders in gauging the progress and outcomes within the realm of services provided by AASD and DSD.
For those looking to dive deeper into the forthcoming EW hospital high-needs budget exception, DHS is rolling out an informative webinar scheduled for January 29, 2026. The training session is targeting all parties, including counties, tribal nations, and MCOs, designed to shed light on the process of requesting exceptions using a newly introduced form. Fueling the anticipation ahead of the new year's changes, this event marks a crucial step in readying all involved agencies for the transition, as outlined by the official communication from DHS.
