Page posted: 10/22/25

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, Minn. Stat. §256B.4914, subd. 19 requires the payment structure of the following services to change from a framework rate to a tiered rate:

· FRS, adult.

· FRS, child.

· LS (i.e., FRS, adult, life sharing).

A person’s tiered rate is based on their MnCHOICES assessment, which determines their case mix (i.e., case mixes A through K). Every case mix has an associated tier. The six tiers are:

· 1

· 2

· 3

· 4

· 5

· 6

The person’s tier determines their rate for FRS or LS. The following table provides information about each tier, the associated MnCHOICES assessment case mix(es) and the corresponding FRS rate and LS rate.

FRS and LS rates by tier

Tier	MnCHOICES assessment case mix	FRS daily rate	LS daily rate
1	A	$194.83	$214.31
2	D	$234.94	$258.43
3	B, C, E or F	$254.06	$279.47
4	G	$306.07	$336.68
5	I	$306.07	$336.68
6	H, J or K	$383.33	$421.66

Tiered-rate determination and service authorization

For FRS or LS with a start date of Jan. 1, 2026, or later, the lead agency must:

1. Use MnCHOICES to determine the person’s tiered rate for FRS or LS.

2. Authorize in MMIS the person’s tiered rate determined by MnCHOICES.

Additional information

Rate exceptions

Tiered rates for FRS and LS are not eligible for rate exceptions (Minn. Stat. §256B.4914, subd. 14. (m)).

Difference between FRS and LS tiered rates

The rate for LS must be 10% higher than the corresponding FRS rate (Minn. Stat. §256B.4914, subd. 19).

Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth (MAPCY)

The lead agency assesses foster care maintenance and supplemental difficulty of care (DOC) levels through the MAPCY tool. DHS pays parenting expenses for every eligible child who lives out of their family’s home in a licensed family foster care setting through Title IV-E funds. For more information about MAPCY, refer to PartnerLink – MAPCY.

When a child whose placement began before Sept. 30, 2021, receives both parenting and FRS waiver services from a single entity (i.e., same provider), the lead agency must subtract the supplemental DOC rate from the FRS tiered rate to avoid duplicate payment for services.

For additional information about funding for children in FRS settings, refer to CBSM – Funding for children in foster care settings.

Additional resources

CBSM – DWRS
CBSM – FRS
CBSM – Funding for children in foster care settings
CBSM – Resource: Life sharing matching process and ongoing support options