External Program Review Committee (EPRC) agenda

Date: 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2026
DSD liaisons: Jessica Little and Ari Dionisopoulos
Type: Whole committee
Location: Room 2222, Elmer L. Andersen Building, 540 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101
Meeting link: https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/j.php?MTID=m5b8757a8f150dd9a584d2d9da31ea72f
Access code: 2482 703 7275
Accommodations: If you need an accommodation for this meeting, you must notify a DSD liaison three days before the meeting. Email PositiveSupports@state.mn.us or call (651) 431-4300.

Common acronyms used by the committee

We ask committee members to avoid the use of acronyms. Here are common acronyms:

· BIRF: DHS form 5148: Behavioral Intervention Report Form

· CABC: Context, antecedent, behavior, consequence

· CFSS: Community First Services and Supports

· DEED: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

· DHS: Minnesota Department of Human Services

· DLI: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

· DSD: Disability Services Division

· DSP: Direct support professional

· EUMR: Emergency use of manual restraint

· FBA: Functional behavior assessment

· HCBS: Home and community-based services

· IRP: Interim Review Panel (Predecessor to the EPRC)

· MDH: Minnesota Department of Health

· PCA: Personal care assistant

· PSR: Positive Supports Rule: Minnesota Rule 9544

· PSTP: DHS form 6810: Positive Support Transition Plan

General reminders for committee members

Before speaking, please state your name. Committee members are expected to:

· Be on time.

· Read the minutes, agenda and supporting documents before each meeting.

· Participate in ideas and conversations, as well as pause to allow others to share input.

· Commit to spending the whole meeting time present and not engage in other activities during the meeting.

Technology

The first few minutes of every meeting will be dedicated to addressing any connectivity issues, to ensure everyone can hear other meeting participants.

Agenda items

Public comments

The committee encourages public participants to share their thoughts and ask questions about committee activities at the beginning of each meeting. The committee will continue on to the next agenda item when either 1) 30 minutes have passed or 2) when there are no additional comments or questions, whichever comes first.

Vote

The committee will discuss and vote on the minutes from January 2026.

Updates to share

Regional positive support capacity building meetings

Committee members are invited to give any updates they may have on this topic. More information can be found at: Regional Capacity Building – Positive Supports (qualitycouncilmn.org).

Simplify and organize online DHS materials and training resources related to positive support services

No current updates.

Intervention services redesign

The project continues to move forward.

Direct care workforce shortage

Caregiver labor trafficking

MDH, DLI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and other state agencies are working to address and prevent labor trafficking of caregivers.

Labor trafficking – When a person uses control and manipulation to get labor, work or services from the victim and the victim believes they are unable to leave or stop. Labor trafficking is not human smuggling and does not require crossing state or international borders. Learn about Minnesota laws on labor trafficking.

Four new resources now available that explain laws and policy impacting care professional compensation

· DHS – Care professional compensation

· DHS – How direct care service rates are determined

· DHS – Requirements for care professional compensation

· DHS – Care professional compensation and service rate comparison (Spreadsheet)

National workforce data for intellectual and developmental disability services

2024 National Core Indicators State of the Workforce Data for Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services

DEED Awards $17.3 Million for Workforce Development and Job Training

Some of these funds could potentially be used to recruit direct care professionals. For details visit: DEED Awards $17.3 Million for Workforce Development and Job Training.

Webinar about assistive technology and the aging population

AASD and DSD eList: Webinar about assistive technology and the aging population

Changes to nursing home workforce standards and minimum wages

Update from DLI: A state plan amendment (SPA) was submitted by DHS to CMS on Jan. 9, 2026. CMS has 90 days from submission date to approve or deny the SPA, although CMS may ask questions that could extend the timeline. The DLI Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board will email notification when federal approval from CMS is obtained.

Background: If federal and state conditional requirements are met as outlined under Minn. R. 5200.2070, Minn. R. 5200.2080 establishes a minimum wage for all nursing home workers, and Minn. R. 5200.2090 establishes minimum wages for a few specific nursing home jobs. Minn. R. 5200.2010 requires additional pay on holidays, and Minn. R. 5200.2020 establishes protections for worker pay and other rights. The DLI Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board is responsible for providing recommendations on care professional compensation and working conditions in nursing homes.

CFSS direct support worker enrollment requirements

Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) agencies and financial management services (FMS) providers must enroll each CFSS direct support worker with Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP). This is required because direct support workers must be listed as the rendering provider on claims for covered personal care services.

Before enrolling a direct support worker, CFSS agencies and FMS providers must ensure the workers:

· Meet the PCA/CFSS worker criteria, requirements and responsibilities.

· Successfully complete the Individual PCA and CFSS training requirements.

A certificate dated after April 15, 2020, meets training requirements for both personal care assistance (PCA) and CFSS.

PCA workers with certificates dated before April 15, 2020, must complete new training before providing CFSS services.

· Complete a background study through NETStudy 2.0 using the facility ID assigned to the agency at the time of enrollment with MHCP.

CFSS agencies and FMS providers are responsible for keeping all enrollment information updated for direct support workers. The most effective way to report changes, end an affiliation or update information for an enrollment application is by submitting an affiliation request through MPSE. Agencies also have the option to fax the Individual DSW Change Request (DHS-5716) (PDF).

Subcommittee updates

Requests for approval subcommittee

This subcommittee has been conducting business as usual.

Emergency use of manual restraint subcommittee

This subcommittee has been conducting business as usual.

Discussion

Annual goal

The committee’s goal is: Create and maintain training materials as needs are discovered and as project opportunities emerge. Some projects may include: PSTP examples, reinforcement (token) programs, implementing Minnesota Rule 9544 for 245D-licensed providers, trainings for specific behaviors or disorders (PICA, fecal smearing, self-harm ingestion), and relating that to state regulations.

Closing

Committee members are welcome to ask questions or bring up other topics for discussion.