AASD and DSD eList announcement

Date: Jan. 20, 2023
To: Lead agency staff who authorize rates for chore services in the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) or determine rates for chore services in the MnCHOICES Support Plan application
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services and Disability Services divisions
Purpose: To provide an update on chore service authorizations in MMIS that start in 2023
Effective: Immediately
Contact: For questions related to disability services, use the DSD Contact Form. For questions related to aging and adult services, email DHS.AASD.HCBS@state.mn.us.

Update on MMIS authorizations for chore services

In an Oct. 18, 2022, eList and Nov. 1, 2022, eList, DHS provided information about the December updates to MMIS that included changes to chore services. Chores services now include a new daily unit, in addition to the existing 15-minute unit.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Dec. 14, 2022, MMIS updates did not include the chore services changes. As of Jan. 20, 2023, the daily unit procedure code (S5121) for chore services is now available for use in MMIS. However, MMIS is not able to accommodate the market rate changes for the 15-minute unit procedure code (S5120) for chore services.

The following section includes DHS’ recommendations for how to authorize 15-minute unit chore services in MMIS to bypass the service authorization issue.

How to authorize chore services in MMIS

For people on all waivers and programs, DHS recommends authorizing chore services in MMIS in the following way:

· If a person’s 15-minute unit of chore service costs the exact 15-minute unit rate on Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Service Rate Limits, DHS-3945 (PDF), authorize 15-minute unit(s) on the person’s service agreement in MMIS using procedure code S5120.

· If a person’s 15-minute unit of chore service does not cost the exact 15-minute unit rate on Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Service Rate Limits, DHS-3945 (PDF), authorize the daily unit on the person’s service agreement using procedure code S5121.

· If a person needs a daily unit of chore service, authorize the daily unit on the person’s service agreement using procedure code S5121.

Additional MnCHOICES instructions

Lead agency staff who determine rates in the MnCHOICES Support Plan and authorize services in MMIS must coordinate so the unit of service and rate in MnCHOICES matches MMIS.

If the lead agency needs to authorize a daily unit of chore service in MMIS to bypass the 15-minute unit authorization issue, they must use the daily unit of chore services in the MnCHOICES Support Plan. A person’s chore services in both the MnCHOICES Support Plan and MMIS must match (i.e., use the same procedure code and rate).

How to determine rates

Chore services are market rate services. For information about determining rates for market rate services, refer to CBSM – Market rate services (BI, CAC, CADI and DD) and CBSM – Rate methodologies for AC, ECS and EW service authorization.

Previous eList announcements

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