Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver
In response to the COVID-19 peacetime emergency, DHS has updated policy/procedures and issued related instructional bulletins to ensure continuity of care for people in Minnesota who access services. These changes:
· Allow LTSS assessments and reassessments to be conducted remotely (March 23, 2020, eList).· Allow case management visits to be conducted remotely (April 6, 2020, eList).· Prevent eligibility in LTSS programs from being terminated (June 22, 2020, eList).
Page posted: 10/1/03 | Page reviewed: 6/13/23 | Page updated: 6/13/23 |
Legal authority | Federally approved CAC Waiver Plan, Minn. Stat. §256B.49 |
Definition | Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver: Program that provides home and community-based services to children and adults who are chronically ill or medically fragile and require the level of care provided in a hospital. These services are an alternative to institutionalization. The services help a person live as independently as possible in community settings and promote optimal health, independence, safety and community integration. |
Eligibility | To be eligible for the CAC Waiver, a person must choose to live in the community and meet all the following criteria: · Be eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) based on a disability or other eligibility status (refer to the MMIS codes for HCBS waiver/AC program eligibility section on CBSM – Waiver/AC programs overview).· Be certified disabled by Social Security or the State Medical Review Team (SMRT) process.· Be younger than age 65 at the time of opening to the waiver for the first time.· Be assessed using MnCHOICES to need the level of care provided in a hospital.· Have documentation from a medical provider that confirms the person’s treatment, monitoring and/or intervention needs.
Note: The lead agency gathers this documentation annually using MnCHOICES Primary provider’s documentation of medical monitoring and treatment needs, DHS-7096.· Have an assessed need for supports and services beyond those available through the MA state plan. |
Covered services | Services under all waiver/AC programs must meet the requirements listed in the services section of CBSM – Waiver and Alternative Care programs overview. The following services are covered under the CAC Waiver. For a service-specific policy page, select a service from the list: · 24-hour emergency assistance· Caregiver living expenses· Case management· Case management aide· Chore services· Community residential services· Consumer directed community supports (CDCS)· Crisis respite· Day support services· Employment development services· Employment exploration services· Employment support services· Environmental accessibility adaptations· Extended home care services (includes extended home care nursing, extended home health aide, extended home care therapies, extended personal care assistance)· Family adult day services· Family residential services· Family training and counseling · Home-delivered meals· Homemaker (cleaning, home management and assistance with activities of daily living)· Independent living skills (ILS) therapies· Individualized home supports (without training, with training and with family training)· Integrated community supports (ICS)· Night supervision services· Positive support services· Prevocational services· Respite· Specialist services· Specialized equipment and supplies (includes personal emergency response systems [PERS])· Transitional services· Transportation. |
State and lead agency responsibilities | Refer to the state and lead agency responsibilities section on CBSM – Waiver/AC programs overview. |
Waiver forms | For a list of forms applicable across and/or specific to waiver programs, refer to CBSM – Forms for LTSS assessment, eligibility and support planning. |
Process and procedure | Refer to CBSM – Waiver, AC and ECS general processes and procedures for specific information about: · Access· Assessments and reassessments· Support planning· Authorization· Changing waiver programs· 65 years of age· Person’s own home requirements· Out-of-state services· Local trade area – using providers from a bordering state· Termination. |
Additional resources | Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver Program Brochure, DHS-2827 (PDF)
CBSM – Assessment applicability and timelines
CBSM – Financial management overview
CBSM – MnCHOICES
CBSM – Waiver, AC and ECS general processes and procedures
CBSM – Waiver/AC programs overview
CBSM – Waiver/AC service provider overview |
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