Minnesota Minnesota

Community-Based Services Manual (CBSM)

Community-Based Services Manual (CBSM)


Home-delivered meals

Page posted: 10/1/03

Page reviewed: 10/27/26

Page updated: 10/27/26

Legal authority

Federally approved Brain Injury (BI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI), Developmental Disabilities (DD) and Elderly Waiver (EW) waiver plans, federally approved Alternative Care (AC) 1115 demonstration, Minn. Stat. §256B.0913, Minn. Stat. §256B.0922

Definition

Home-delivered meal: An appropriate, nutritionally balanced meal that is delivered to the person’s home.

Eligibility

AC, ECS and EW

To receive this service under the AC, ECS and EW programs:

  • · The person must meet overall waiver/AC service requirements on CBSM – Waiver and AC programs overview.
  • · The person must have an assessed need for the service that is documented in their support plan.
  • · The service must be the most cost-effective method to provide the person with a nutritionally balanced meal.

    • BI, CAC, CADI and DD

    To receive this service under the BI, CAC, CADI and DD waivers:

  • · The person must meet overall waiver service requirements on CBSM – Waiver and AC programs overview.
  • · The person must be unable to prepare their own meals due to their disability.
  • · The person must have an assessed need for the service that is documented in their support plan.
  • · The service must be the most cost-effective method to provide the person with a nutritionally balanced meal.
  • · The service does not substitute for parental responsibility or informal supports that are available and appropriate to meet the person's assessed needs.

    • Covered services

    The person can receive up to one waiver/AC/ECS-funded home-delivered meal per day.

    Note: The lead agency can authorize support to help the person prepare additional meals (e.g., homemaker, individualized home supports).

    Non-covered services

    If the person receives a meal as part of another service or funding source, they cannot receive a home-delivered meal. Examples of other services or funding sources may include:

  • · Adult foster care.
  • · Community residential services (CRS).
  • · Family residential services (FRS).
  • · Customized living (CL) or integrated community supports (ICS) if the person receives meal preparation for three meals per day as part of the service. For more information, refer to the settings section below.
  • · Housing Support (formerly known as Group Residential Housing).

    • The person cannot use this service solely to save money on their food budget.

    This service does not cover meals for a minor child when a parent/guardian or other responsible adult is available in the home to prepare meals.

    Settings

    The person may choose to receive the home-delivered meal where they live or in a common dining space where they can eat the meal. The common dining space must be located in the building where the person resides.

    The person does not need to have a permanent home to receive a home-delivered meal.

    CL

    The lead agency can authorize home-delivered meals in CL settings if all the following are true:

  • · The person receives meal preparation for less than three meals per day as part of the CL service.
  • · The home-delivered meal service and the CL service are delivered by separate providers.
  • · The case manager/care coordinator ensures there is no duplication of meal preparation.

    • ICS

    The lead agency can authorize home-delivered meals in ICS settings if all the following are true:

  • · The person receives assistance or support with cooking for less than three meals per day as part of the ICS service.
  • · The home-delivered meal service and the ICS service are delivered by separate providers.
  • · The case manager/care coordinator ensures there is no duplication of meal preparation.

    • Secondary information

    Services under all waiver/AC programs must meet the requirements listed in the services section of CBSM – Waiver/AC programs overview.

    Title IIIC of the Older Americans Act (OAA)

    The lead agency should authorize home-delivered meals the person needs within the limits of the waiver, AC or ECS. The lead agency may also authorize home-delivered meals through Title IIIC of the OAA for a person age 60 or older when they cannot authorize the amount of meals the person needs through the waiver, AC or ECS. For more information, refer to ACL – OAA payer of last resort.

    Provider standards and qualifications

    Home-delivered meals are DHS enrollment-required services. For more information, refer to CBSM – Waiver/AC service provider overview.

    Eligible providers

    The following providers may provide home-delivered meals:

  • · Hospitals.
  • · Restaurants.
  • · Schools.
  • · Others that provide home-delivered meals and meet the additional provider requirements below.

    • Additional provider requirements

    A home-delivered meal provider must:

  • · Comply with all state and local health regulations and ordinances related to food preparation, handling and serving, as defined under Minn. R. 4626.
  • · Use insulated hot and cold containers to ensure food is delivered at appropriate temperatures.
  • · Ensure the meal contains at least one-third of the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) as established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council.
  • · Modify the meal, as needed, to meet the person’s dietary requirements.

    • A licensed dietician or licensed nutritionist must review and approve menu plans. The dietician or nutritionist must meet the requirements in Minn. Stat. §148.621 and Minn. R. 3250.

    Authorization, rates and billing

    The lead agency authorizes home-delivered meals at the predetermined rate. For more information, refer to Long-Term Services and Supports Service Rate Limits, DHS-3945 (PDF).

    Additional resources

    CBSM – Waiver, AC and ECS general process and procedures
    CBSM – Waiver/AC programs overview
    CBSM – Waiver/AC service provider overview
    Minnesota Aging & Disability Resources
    PartnerLink – Food policy for Housing Support recipients residing in licensed assisted living facilities

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