AASD and DSD eList announcement

Date: Aug. 26, 2025
To: Lead agency staff and other interested parties
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services and Disability Services divisions
Purpose: To provide a summary of 2025 legislative changes that impact the MnCHOICES assessment process
Contact: For questions about disability waivers, use the DSD Contact Form. For questions about Alternative Care (AC), Essential Community Supports (ECS) and Elderly Waiver (EW), email dhs.aasd.hcbs@state.mn.us

MnCHOICES assessment process legislative updates

The 2025 Minnesota Legislature passed changes that affect the MnCHOICES assessment process in Minn. Stat.§256B.0911. This eList provides a summary of the legislative changes that most directly affect the MnCHOICES assessment process.

1. MnCHOICES certified assessor qualifications

The Legislature changed the education requirement for certified assessors from a bachelor’s degree to an associate degree.

Next steps

DHS must obtain federal approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) before we implement this change.

2. Lead agency ability to contract with hospitals to perform MnCHOICES assessments

The Legislature will allow lead agencies to contract with licensed hospitals to perform MnCHOICES assessments. The hospital employees who perform MnCHOICES assessments:

· Must be qualified assessors.

· Cannot perform waiver-related tasks beyond assessments.

The lead agency is still responsible for MnCHOICES assessment oversight, compliance and quality assurance.

Next steps

DHS must obtain federal approval from CMS before we implement this change.

3. Estimated timelines to complete assessments

The Legislature added a requirement that the lead agency must provide the person with an estimated timeline to complete their assessment. The lead agency still must follow the 20-day assessment requirement on CBSM – Assessment applicability and timelines.

Next steps

DHS will:

· Develop implementation guidance.

· Share more information when it is available.

4. Remote reassessments

The Legislature increased the number of allowable consecutive remote reassessments from two to four for the following waivers:

· Developmental Disabilities (DD).

· Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI).

· Community Alternative Care (CAC).

· Brain Injury (BI).

Next steps

DHS must obtain federal approval from CMS before we implement this change.

5. Replacements for required reassessment signatures

The Legislature will allow lead agencies to accept verbal attestation or an alternative communication method in place of written signatures for all reassessments.

Next steps

DHS must obtain federal approval from CMS before we implement this change.

6. Attestation to no changes in needs or services

The Legislature updated policy to allow a person to attest that they have no changes in needs or services for up to two consecutive reassessments if they are both:

· Ages 22 to 64.

· Receiving home and community-based services (HCBS) under a disability waiver (BI, CAC, CADI or DD) or Community First Services and Supports (CFSS).

Next steps

DHS must obtain federal approval from CMS before we implement this change.

7. Dashboard on MnCHOICES assessment completions

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, DHS must create a dashboard that contains summary data on MnCHOICES assessment completions and update it at least twice per year.

Next steps

DHS will develop the dashboard and provide more information when it is available.

8. Long-term care consultation (LTCC) services payment reform

The Legislature requires DHS to develop an LTCC services payment methodology that does not rely on a time study for reimbursement.

Next steps

DHS must:

· Develop a proposal for a new LTCC services payment methodology that does not rely on a time study for reimbursement.

· Submit the proposal to the legislature by Oct. 1, 2026.

More information

DHS will send eList announcements to:

· Communicate any other legislative changes connected to MnCHOICES as necessary.

· Share updates and implementation guidance when we receive decisions from CMS.

Previous eList announcements

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