Minnesota DHS Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine

Meeting summary

Dec. 18, 2025

Attendees

DHS and contractors: Calla Oftedahl, Adrienne Hannert, Anna Yesberger,* Matt Menke,* Jill Becker, Frances Van Houten, Katie Pratt, Elian Sorensen

Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine: Rev. Katrin Bachmeier, Jennifer Ballinger,* Tricia Brisbine, Rep. Brion Curran,* Kris Erickson, Heidi Hamilton, Lisa Harrison-Hadler, Dr. Katrina Jirik, Jenna Johnson, Julie Johnson, Meredith McKinnon,* Gretchen Spier,* Mike Tessneer,* Mor Vue, Chad Wilson, Linda Wolford*

* These attendees joined the meeting virtually.

Meeting highlights

Welcome

The second meeting convening members of the Advisory Task Force for Waiver Reimagine (ATFWR) was held in a hybrid format. In-person participants attended the session at the Eagan Community Center, while virtual attendees joined via Cisco Webex.

Frances Van Houten, the meeting facilitator, provided a general overview of the session and made sure all attendees’ accessibility needs were met before proceeding.

Community members attending the meeting in person were invited to record their feedback, comments and questions. Other community members were able to join the meeting virtually via YouTube livestream.

Meeting objective

· The following goals were established for the meeting:

Develop a more comprehensive understanding of the Waiver Reimagine (WR) ecosystem to help ground the ATFWR’s work.

Establish a preliminary work plan for the next four to 12 months, including the following tasks:

Selecting ATFWR cochairs

Agreeing to a group charter

Forming work groups

Scheduling future meetings.

Interested parties

· Attendees worked together to build out a list of interested parties whom their work will affect:

People with disabilities and their families

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)

The Minnesota Legislature and government committees

The governor’s office

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Service providers (small, medium and large)

Medical providers (e.g., Gillette)

Caregivers (e.g., personal care assistants)

Guardians

Advocates (individuals, groups and organizations — not including providers)

The general public

Consultants (e.g., HSRI)

Other related DHS task forces/advisory councils

Tribal nations

Counties

Taxpayers.

Members’ perspectives

· The ATFWR discussed how they feel about working together and in collaboration with DHS.

Members described feeling uncertain and concerned about their role in — and the pace of — the work. They also asked how their input is being used.

Some task force members shared feelings shaped by prior experiences with DHS and previous engagement efforts. This included the feeling that providing input has not historically led to meaningful change.

Such perspectives are informing how members approach the ATFWR and the WR project. Members shared that they have a strong interest in clearer communication and more collaborative engagement and that they want this process to look different from past ones.

DHS panel

· The ATFWR spoke with a panel consisting of the following five DHS staff members, including two ATFWR members:

Heidi Hamilton: Disability Services Division director, DHS (ATFWR member)

Mor Vue: Assistant commissioner of Aging and Disability Services Administration, DHS (ATFWR member)

John Connolly: Deputy commissioner/State Medicaid director, DHS

Kristy Graume: Legislative relations director, DHS

Elyse Bailey: Budget director, DHS

The panel discussion touched on the following:

Where and how DHS feels the ATFWR will have the most influence relative to areas of WR that cannot be changed.

Concerns about the impact the proposed system will have on participants and their families.

Questions about both ATFWR and WR aligning with federal requirements and state legislation.

Task force decisions

· The ATFWR agreed to postpone task force member introductions until a later meeting. One member voiced opposition to this plan, and as a compromise, members were instructed to share their name and background (e.g., parent) when speaking.

· The ATFWR agreed, on Frances’ recommendation, to appoint Linda Wolford and Dr. Katrina Jirik as interim cochairs. The ATFWR did not decide how long the interim period would last or when they would reconvene to elect permanent cochairs.

· The ATFWR agreed to establish the following four work groups, understanding that changes and refinements will be considered as they emerge:

Policy and Practice Group

Scenario Group

Residential Waiver Group

Early Indicator Group.

· The ATFWR agreed to spend the next several months in a “sprint” phase so they can offer input on the WR system in advance of the waiver application’s submission to CMS.