External Program Review Committee (EPRC) agenda

Date: 2-4 p.m. March 6, 2025

DSD liaisons: Stacie Enders, Jessica Little and Ari Dionisopoulos

Type: Whole committee

Location: Room 2222, Elmer L. Andersen Building, 540 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101

Meeting link: Webex

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 2025.

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 supports or intervention services.

No updates on the training inventory.

9544 245A Training video is complete! https://youtu.be/CrtbUyoaKak - Thank you to everyone who participated in its creation.

Intervention services redesign

Group is currently working through a draft outline of the potential service.

Direct care workforce shortage

Federal updates: The National Association of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) shared on Friday that Medicaid is facing potential cuts from Congress ranging from $1 billion to over $800 billion.

· Here is a one-pager by PHI urging Congress to continue funding for Medicaid services: PHI-Medicaid-Statement-2.20.2025.pdf.

· Here is information on U.S. spending on health care: NHE Fact Sheet | CMS.

· Here is a plain language guide on how to advocate for Medicaid: Sharing Your Story: A Guide to Medicaid Advocacy.

· This training on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. Central time will discuss latest developments in Medicaid financing: Medicaid in Motion: Navigating Post-Election Policy Changes and Opportunities.

2025 legislative session

Some bills that might affect the workforce shortage include:

· SF 683 as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) This bill creates a new advisory commission that will provide recommendations on many things, including strategies to address the availability of workers.

· SF 815 as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) This bill modifies CFSS requirements for the enhanced rate.

· SF 1418 Status in the Senate for the 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) This bill creates a council that will focus specifically on the direct care workforce shortage and represent all types of direct care employers.

· SF 1062 Status in the Senate for the 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) This bill creates a pilot program for college training of certified care professionals.

In the news

· This podcast for DSPs from NASDDDS shares information on how they can positively affect the person they support.

· Work continues on creating a federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for care professionals supporting people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Here is a recent update: Definitions and Occupational Characteristics of Direct Support Professionals | ASPE.

Recent advertising efforts

DHS recently worked with a variety of media sources in Minnesota to purchase advertisements to encourage people to look at caring career information managed by DEED. Below is one example from the home page of Access Press (right hand column). The number of views on DEED’s caring career webpages roughly doubled during the time the ads were run.

Subcommittee updates

Requests for approval subcommittee

Business as usual.

Emergency use of manual restraint subcommittee

Further exploration of EUMR use, particularly around medications and what is considered a medical emergency. EPRC is a huge impact and support to providers! Keep acknowledging the good work!

Discussion

Annual goals

The committee will review their 2025 goal: Create and maintain training materials as needs are discovered and as project opportunities emerge.

Some projects may include:

· PSTP examples

· Reinforcement (token) programs

· Implementing 9544 for 245D providers

· Trainings for specific behaviors or disorders (PICA, fecal smearing, self-harm, ingestion) and relating that to state regulations.

This goal is meant to reflect the committee’s commitment to providers by giving them resources that align with the goal of reducing the use of prohibited procedures and increasing the use of positive supports. Spending time working with providers gives them a great perspective on topics that need further explanation.

Closing

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

· Committee members are also asked to send Jessica any accomplishments or other things they would like to highlight for the committee’s 2024 annual report.