Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine minutes

Date: June 24, 2026

Attendees

Support staff

Calla Oftedahl, Anna Yesberger, Frances Van Houten, Katie Pratt and Elian Sorensen

Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine members

Rev. Katrin Bachmeier, Jennifer Ballinger, Tricia Brisbane, David Dively, Kris Erickson, Linda Fairchild, Lisa Harrison-Hadler, Jenna Johnson, Meredith McKinnon, Jenn Purrington, Gretchen Spier, Mike Tessneer, Mor Vue and Chad Wilson

Meeting objectives

· Reach a shared understanding of the perspectives and perceptions surrounding Waiver Reimagine (WR) and the integration mandate (Olmstead decision) to inform WR implementation.

· Gather input on a potential process for collecting task force perspectives on work group recommendations and output.

· Receive updates from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and WR-associated groups.

Minutes

The regular June meeting of the Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine was held virtually via Cisco Webex. Frances Van Houten, the meeting facilitator, provided a general overview of the meeting agenda and attendee expectations.

DHS updates

· DHS is reviewing measures passed during the 2026 legislative session on May 18, providing additional direction for the WR launch. A new launch date for WR has not yet been determined.

DHS previously shared that the public comment period will take place in July or August 2026 and the waiver application will be submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in October 2026. These dates will be adjusted, but new dates have not yet been determined.

· WR will follow a rolling, phased launch once the following steps are complete:

CMS approves the new waiver plans.

The new legislative changes require the DHS commissioner to consult with the Olmstead Implementation Office before seeking CMS approval. This is to make sure the new program aligns with Olmstead’s goals to support inclusive living.

At least 12 months before launch, waiver participants receive an assigned support range and corresponding budget range through a MnCHOICES assessment to support planning purposes.

· DHS launched the updated WR website, which was developed with stakeholder input from the expert panel. This group, made up of 30 to 40 community members engaged with the service system, first convened in November 2025. Panelists are helping support the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) with budget recalibration activities to inform the validation and refinement of the budget model.

DHS will publicize the website in early July.

The task force will be able to save content from the former website before the old site starts automatically redirecting to the new one in late July.

· DHS plans to share a quarterly update on WR on June 30, 2026, using an eList.

· DHS contracted with HSRI to design the budget methodology that will determine budgets for waiver participants once WR goes live. DHS is working to figure out how to best share the finalized methodology with the task force, expert panel and public.

· The expert panel recently completed the record review for the budget model, meaning members tested and refined the model, making sure it is defensible and explaining how its results are generated. The panel noted the following:

Results did not suggest that any changes needed to be made to the support range framework.

The budget model should better define what the support ranges mean.

The service mixes, estimations of the type and amount of services people are likely to need, should be adjusted.

DHS needs to ensure that policies, practices and training are sufficient for implementing the new budget model.

· Some terms like “service mixes” and “support ranges” might not satisfy plain language requirements for the WR launch. DHS is considering updating terminology for the WR budget framework and collecting feedback on proposed changes.

Professionals — from counties, Tribal Nations, managed care organizations, provider organizations and advocacy organizations and others — working in home and community-based services may provide feedback using the Join the Professional Insight Panel form.

DHS is also gathering public feedback on language changes through the Virtual Insight Panel.

· DHS plans to test two new questions for the MnCHOICES assessment. These questions are meant to identify people with extraordinary medical or behavioral needs. More updates about the development and testing of these questions are forthcoming.

Current experiences, anticipated WR differences

· The task force discussed the 1999 Olmstead Supreme Court case and its mandate that people with disabilities receive services in the most integrated setting of their choosing that meets their needs.

· The task force reviewed a video prepared by Heidi Hamilton of DHS discussing the Olmstead decision and its impact in Minnesota. The video can be accessed in the meeting recording (49:09).

· The task force discussed Minnesota’s history of deinstitutionalization and past efforts to limit growth in residential service settings. WR’s two-waiver structure strengthens the state’s ability to limit future growth in residential settings.

· The task force discussed the feasibility of this goal given concerns that under WR, people receiving residential services will have higher budgets than people receiving services in the community.

· The task force discussed the importance of ensuring WR aligns with Olmstead requirements and does not force people to receive services in congregate care settings. Members discussed the need to review the budget methodology and make sure people living in community settings will not have their budgets reduced as a result of WR.

Moving forward

· The task force discussed the development of the recommendations report they are charged with writing and sharing with the Legislature.