AASD eList announcement
Date: Dec. 30, 2025
To: Lead agencies (i.e., counties, tribal nations and managed care organizations [MCOs]), hospitals, Elderly Waiver (EW) service providers and other interested parties
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services Division
Purpose: To announce changes to the EW nursing facility conversion budget process and new EW hospital high-needs budget exception
Effective: Jan. 1, 2026
Contact: dhs.aasd.hcbs@state.mn.us
EW hospital high-needs budget exception and nursing facility conversion budget
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, DHS and MCOs will accept requests from lead agencies for the new EW hospital high-needs budget exception for a person when all the following are true:
DHS created a new EW budget exception request form for both of the following:
The new EW budget exception request form:
Lead agency actions
Lead agencies must use the EW budget exception request form in MnCHOICES to request the exception before the person discharges from the applicable facility. A practice guide with instructions for the form is available in the MnCHOICES Help Center.
Reason for change
The 2024 Minnesota Legislature directed DHS to implement Minn. Stat. §256S.191, which allows people age 65 and older to access to budget exceptions when they discharge from a hospital with high care needs.
Webinars
After Jan. 1, 2026, DHS will host lead agency and provider webinars about the EW hospital high-needs budget exception. For information about the lead agency webinar, refer to the Dec. 30, 2025, webinar announcement. We will share details and registration information for providers in a provider news notification.
More information
For more information, refer to CBSM – EW hospital high-needs budget exception and nursing facility conversion budget.
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