What’s new for: Disabilities

Court reaffirms: Funds won’t impact eligibility for benefits, programs

A court order issued April 23 reaffirms that settlement funds received by clients under an agreement on a class action related to treatment at Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) will not count as resources for purposes of the clients’ eligibility for disability benefits or programs. The class action was filed on behalf of residents with developmental disabilities who were restrained or secluded at METO, a department-operated facility in Cambridge. More detailed information and copies of the court orders, including the April 23 order, are online. All clients in the class action received a copy of the April 23 order from the court. DHS also sent information about the latest court order to county staff statewide including county directors, supervisors, attorneys, health care liaisons and financial workers. The METO program closed July 1, 2011.

CMS taking comments on proposal for integrating Medicare and Medicaid

DHS has submitted a final proposal for further integrating Medicare and Medicaid coverage to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is accepting public comments until 5 p.m. EST May 31 to inform its review of the proposal. The proposal seeks more administrative integration and greater accountability among providers and payers for total cost of care and health outcomes for people with both types of coverage. A copy of the proposal and information on submitting comments to CMS is online at www.dhs.state.mn.us/dualdemo.

Report finds close collaboration improves waiver programs

Close collaboration across units and agencies helped counties provide home and community-based waiver programs for people with disabilities. A report on reviews of waiver programs for people with disabilities (PDF) also found a growing need for counties to provide culturally diverse services for their waiver populations. These findings came from nearly six years of waiver program reviews in each of Minnesota’s 87 counties. More information is in a story about the report.

Report looks at issues related to DHS psychiatric hospitals

The seven Community Behavioral Health Hospitals operated by DHS are an important element of mental health care for people in Greater Minnesota, according to a report to the Legislature issued by the DHS Chemical and Mental Health Services Administration. However, the 16-bed psychiatric hospitals do not solve many rural regions’ top mental health services challenge: the lack of local, reliable and timely access to a secure facility for people with serious mental illness who are also aggressive or violent. More information about the report is online.

Gov. Dayton visits Minnesota Security Hospital

Gov. Mark Dayton made the first visit in recent memory by a governor to the Minnesota Security Hospital (MSH) in St. Peter Feb. 8. Following a tour of the facility with DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson, Deputy Commissioner Anne Barry and the MSH executive team, Dayton greeted and addressed more than 100 employees in the Tomlinson Hall gymnasium. More information is available in a story about Dayton’s visit.

Leaders appointed for state-operated health care system

Minnesota’s state-operated health care system has two new leaders. Patricia Carlson began Nov. 7, 2011, as interim chief executive officer of State Operated Services (SOS). Bruce Edison was appointed chief operating officer of SOS Jan. 3. Carlson is the former human services director for Olmsted County and most recently executive director of Zumbro Valley Mental Health Center in Rochester. Edison previously was employed by the University of Minnesota, where he was a training and development consultant, and came to DHS from Health Partners/Regions Hospital and RHSC, where he was director of human resources. SOS provides direct care and treatment to people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, chemical dependency and traumatic brain injury as well as people with disabilities who pose a risk to society. Services are provided at just under 200 dispersed sites throughout Minnesota by approximately 3,600 DHS employees.

Minnesota Specialty Health System sites receive key accreditation

Following full surveys and complete programmatic reviews, the Minnesota Specialty Health System locations in Brainerd, Wadena and Willmar have received accreditation by the Joint Commission. Representatives from the Joint Commission visited the three sites during the past few months and conducted their reviews, which included all treatment plans. The accreditation can be valid for up to three years. The Minnesota Specialty Health System provides an array of intensive treatment services in community-based residential settings.

Report outlines Medicaid reform waiver development

A Medical Assistance Reform Report (PDF) recently submitted to the Minnesota Legislature discusses DHS progress redesigning Medical Assistance (MA) and coordinating with current and ongoing department initiatives. The 2011 Legislature directed DHS to reform MA, Minnesota’s Medicaid program, to achieve better outcomes for people with disabilities, seniors and other enrollees. The report contains detailed information on 12 separate initiatives, designated by the Legislature, including community integration and independence, improved health, reduced reliance on institutional care, attainment of housing and employment and reduced use of services that are less effective. More information is available at www.dhs.state.mn.us/MAreform.

Online training addresses needs of those with hearing, vision loss

A new online training designed to help long-term care consultants and direct service providers effectively assess the needs of Minnesotans with combined hearing and vision loss is now available. The training was launched this month by the DHS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division. More information about the training modules is online.

Record high compliance rate ever seen for tobacco sales to youth

It is harder than ever for underage youth to illegally buy cigarettes in Minnesota, according to the 2012 federal fiscal year Synar annual report. Every year, in order to meet federal guidelines, DHS is charged with conducting random inspections of licensed tobacco retailers in Minnesota to check compliance with tobacco age of sale laws. According to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, Minnesota achieved a 97.6 percent compliance rate. This is Minnesota’s highest compliance rate ever. More information about the tobacco compliance checks is online.

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