External Program Review Committee (EPRC) minutes
Date: June 6, 2024
DSD liaisons: Stacie Enders
Type: Whole committee
Attendees: Jodi Greenstein, Kim Frost, Dan Baker, Melanie Eidsmoe, Laura Daire, Victoria Anderson, and Antonina (Toni) Puente
Not present: Danielle Bishop, Stacy Danov, Susie Haben, and Lindsay Nash
Agenda items
Public comments
There were no public comments at this meeting.
Vote
The committee discussed and voted on the minutes from May 2024:
· Melanie Eidsmoe: yes· Toni Puente: yes· Victoria Anderson: yes· Laura Daire: yes· Jodi Greenstein: abstain· Dan Baker: yes· Kim Frost: yes.Updates to share
Direct care workforce shortage
· DHS recently hired Dani Mielke as the new Americans policy lead. Dani will be assisting DHS with workforce projects related to new Americans. There are some grant funds available related to this topic. DHS is currently reviewing grant applications, and the committee will receive an update once applicants are selected. · DHS is working to assign staff to manage the new requirements of the Access Rule. States have three to five years to come into compliance with the rule. The rule does not provide any funding to states to come into compliance. The rule also does not include any provisions to reduce reliance on direct care staff, such as encouraging use of assistive technology. It might be difficult for states to comply with the rule given our nation’s growing aging population and worker shortages in multiple career fields, not just health and human services. Further updates will be shared at a later date. Federal Register: Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services.Discussion
Annual goals
· Provide resources and guidance for improving communication skills.The draft the committee worked on is with the Disability Services Division communications team. It might be several months before the draft is developed into an edoc. Stacie will share updates as she receives them. · Simplify and organize online DHS materials and training resources related to positive supports or intervention services.This project is slow due to more time sensitive priorities. However, the Disability Services Division is still committed to working on this as time allows. · Explore ways to improve access to positive support services.The general public survey is almost ready. The survey for people using supports is currently in development with the Virtual Insight Panel team and will be sent out mid-June. The registration page and the flyer are finished. The project is on track and on schedule. · Support efforts to improve the direct care workforce shortage.DHS is working to hire someone to fill Linda Wolford’s position, which will primarily focus on workforce projects as well as equity projects. Once that position is filled, that team will be able to move projects along more quickly and pick up some new ones. Closing
· The University of Minnesota shared the following resource related to supporting families of children with behavioral health and mental health needs: Qualtrics Survey | Project ECHO: Telehealth to Support Families of Children with Behavioral Health and Mental Health Needs.· Committee members were asked to share if they know of any umbrella organizations that manage business activities for providers, such as completing billing forms, data management, licensing applications, etc. DHS is finding that many providers are great at person-centered supports and caregiving, but some struggle to also manage day-to-day business activities. DHS is looking for more information on this topic to see what is already happening across Minnesota. That information will then be used to determine next steps for supporting providers.
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