AASD and DSD eList announcement

Date: April 1, 2025
To: Lead agencies and service providers
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services (AASD) and Disability Services (DSD) divisions
Purpose: To announce waiver-funded assistance during community emergencies or disasters for people who receive home and community-based services (HCBS)
Contact: For questions about Elderly Waiver (EW) or Alternative Care (AC), email dhs.aasd.hcbs@state.mn.us. For questions about disability waivers, use the DSD Contact Form.

Waiver-funded assistance for community emergencies or disasters

DHS may approve lead agencies to authorize the use of respite services or residential services during a community emergency or disaster. This waiver-funded assistance applies to people who receive HCBS.

Respite services approval

DHS may approve a licensed and qualified respite provider to deliver out-of-home respite services to a person if a community emergency or disaster requires the person to immediately relocate from their home.

Note: For purposes of this provision, community emergencies or disasters include emergencies and disasters monitored by the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).

Residential services approval

DHS may approve an exception to the size limit for a setting to provide residential services (i.e., community residential services, family residential services and customized living) during emergencies when the setting will prevent a person’s placement in a hospital, regional treatment center or nursing facility.

Note: For purposes of this provision, emergencies include loss of services or housing due to a natural disaster.

Applicable policies

For emergency use of respite services or residential services, lead agencies and providers must follow policies on:

· CBSM – Waiver and AC programs overview.

· CBSM – Support planning for long-term services and supports (LTSS) and all dependent pages, including CBSM – Resource: Guide for emergency backup planning.

· CBSM – Respite (if using respite).

· CBSM – Community residential services, CBSM – Family residential services or CBSM – Customized living (if using residential services).

Additional resources

For emergency planning and response resources, refer to:

· DHS – Disability emergency preparedness.

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Natural disasters and severe weather.

· Ready.gov – Disasters and emergencies: Floods.

Previous eList announcements

AASD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD STAKEHOLDER ARCHIVE