Page posted: 3/13/17

Page updated: 1/16/26

Legal authority

CMS-approved state plan amendment – 2017 (PDF), CMS-approved state plan amendment – 2018 update (PDF), CMS-approved state plan amendment – 2019 update (PDF), Minn. Stat. §256B.0949

Definition

EIDBI benefit: A Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP) that offers medically necessary treatment for people who:

Overview

The purpose of the EIDBI benefit is to provide medically necessary, early and intensive intervention for people with ASD and related conditions. The benefit also is intended to:

EIDBI is not a substitute for less-intensive therapies, educational services or general behavioral supports.

For more information, refer to EIDBI Manual – Services – Coordination with other services.

Eligibility and referral

A person is eligible to receive EIDBI services if they meet all the following criteria:

A MHCP-enrolled CMDE provider determines whether a person meets these eligibility criteria during the CMDE process.

For more information, including complete definitions of ASD and related conditions, refer to EIDBI Manual – Eligibility for EIDBI services.

CMDE process overview

A CMDE provider must complete an initial CMDE to determine eligibility and medical necessity for a person with ASD or a related condition. If the CMDE provider is not affiliated with an EIDBI agency, the person’s support team and CMDE provider should work together to refer the person to an EIDBI agency for services.

A CMDE must:

A CMDE provider must update a person’s CMDE at least once every three years, unless clinically needed or requested by a parent/guardian.

A CMDE may incorporate the results from a previous diagnostic assessment or qualify as a diagnostic assessment if one has not been completed. For information about diagnostic assessments, refer to MHCP Provider Manual – Diagnostic assessment.

For more information, refer to EIDBI Manual – CMDE.

Referral resources

The Minnesota autism interagency team created a wide array of documents translated into multiple languages to support families and professionals. To learn more about these resources, refer to Minnesota Autism Resource Portal – Pathway to services and supports.

To learn about how to find an EIDBI provider or make a direct referral for EIDBI services, use the pathway to EIDBI services for families tool:

To explore additional services and supports, use the autism services and supports navigation tool:

Covered services

Under the EIDBI benefit, a person with ASD or a related condition may receive a range of individualized services. These services target the functional skills and core symptoms of ASD and related conditions to promote the person’s optimal independence and participation in family, school and community life.

Services may include, but are not limited to:

Services can occur in the person’s home or other community living setting, such as a school, office, center or clinic. Some EIDBI providers may offer services via telehealth to reach people in remote locations or who are unable to access in-person services.

The person may still be able to access EIDBI services if they receive Community First Services and Supports (CFSS)/personal care assistance (PCA), home and community-based services (HCBS), child welfare services, targeted case management or other services. Providers must avoid service duplication and coordinate EIDBI services in the applicable treatment and service plans.

For more information about services, including coordination of services under the EIDBI benefit, refer to EIDBI Manual – Services.

Provider standards and qualifications

EIDBI services are delivered by providers who are enrolled with MHCP and meet all qualifications.

Providers are independent entities. They determine:

EIDBI Manual – Overview of EIDBI providers includes information about:

To find EIDBI providers in their area, families can refer to DHS – MHCP provider directory.

Clinical supervision and service delivery requirements

Qualified providers must deliver medically necessary EIDBI services under appropriate clinical supervision. For more information, including complete documentation, supervision and treatment planning standards, refer to:

Licensing requirements

Effective May 31, 2026, DHS will require all EIDBI agencies to have applied for a provisional license. Agencies can begin applying for this license when it becomes available in early January 2026. For more information, including application details, refer to DHS – EIDBI licensing.

Trainings

ASD Strategies in Action is an online, video-based learning series for families, lead agencies and providers that covers the characteristics of ASD and evidenced-based strategies to support people with ASD in homes, schools and community settings.

EIDBI 101: Overview of the Benefit is an online training about the various requirements of EIDBI services, including eligibility, access, covered and non-covered services and more. There is a version of EIDBI 101 for EIDBI providers and a version of EIDBI 101 for families and lead agencies.

Provider trainings

EIDBI providers must complete specific trainings. For specific EIDBI training requirements, refer to EIDBI Manual – Individual EIDBI provider training.

Additional training resources

For additional trainings, refer to Minnesota Autism Resource Portal – Trainings and events and EIDBI Manual – Overview of training for EIDBI providers.