Wednesday House Children and Families: Video Link
DCYF Presentation
of Governor’s Proposal: Commissioner
Tikki Brown walked the committee through the Governor’s proposal. Key elements
include:
SNAP:
- Pays
the required state share (100% of non-federal costs) of SNAP benefits
- Adds
capacity to conduct real-time case reviews to prevent errors before they
occur
- Strengthens
training capacity and expands the certified train-the-trainer pilot
statewide
- Consolidates
policy manuals and enhances search functionality
- Develops
a MAXIS integration layer to enable connections to modern applications and
tools.
- Expands
income verification technology and creates a new secure applicant
portal
- Covers
lost federal administrative reimbursement for state information technology
systems
MAAFFPWA:
- Extends
Hennepin/Ramsey Act Funding until December 2026.
Member comments:
- Rep.
Natalie Zeleznikar: Is there any funding for the 85 other counties that
Hennepin and Ramsey received?
- Response:
no other funding for counties
- Rep.
Jess Hanson reminded the committee that HF4125 (Agbaje) would have shifted
case review from the counties to the state. (NOTE THAT BILL REMAINS IN
COMMITTEE)
- Rep.
Nolan West: is the state ready to take over the case review process in
January?
- Counties
are clearly not ready. I hope we will give them more time; we need to get
more information from the work group, etc.
Response: DCYF continues to work with Hennepin
and Ramsey Counties; they will be ready to implement case reviews as necessary.
It would require a number of changes, including staffing, reorganization
restructure, etc.
Child Care
Assistance Program (CCAP) Program Integrity:
- Funds
six positions at DCYF to expand investigative capacity
- Expands
data analytics
- Increases
local agency capacity for program integrity investigations
Legacy Systems: Phased Roadmap to Modernized Eligibility:
$28.340 million in FY 2026-27 and $7.761 million in FY 2028-29 to address
legacy IT systems used by county and Tribal workers across human services
programs. This investment will address MAXIS inefficiencies through incremental
modernization and fund a comprehensive study to establish a phased roadmap for
modernized program application and eligibility technology that achieves a
cross-agency, universal eligibility determination capability for human services
programs. Funding will also increase staff capacity across DCYF, DHS, and MNIT
to provide coordination, strategic planning, and leadership for cross-agency
systems modernization work.
- Addresses
MAXIS inefficiencies by creating a bridge to system modernization. Funding
will support a phased execution of system enhancements aimed at easing the
worker experience, improving usability, and moving toward a modernized
platform for eligibility determination and casework. This investment could
support several incremental MAXIS improvement efforts, including:
- A
web interface overlaying the MAXIS green screens. With investment in the
MAXIS integration layer, there will be tools available to MNIT to move
the worker experience in MAXIS into a web-based user interface, providing
point and click navigation and easing the current worker experience. In
the near term, investment in this overlay would help improve MAXIS
usability along with worker retention, onboarding, and training.
- A
new MAXIS rules engine. With investment in the MAXIS integration layer, a
new stand-alone rules engine could be added and would be a first phase
toward universal eligibility and enrollment capabilities through a highly
sophisticated policy application. This recommendation for a standalone,
integrated rules engine allows for tighter, quicker flags and checks on
eligibility determinations, supporting ongoing program integrity efforts,
and payment accuracy. This investment also compliments and accelerates the
centralized policy manual in the SNAP federal changes recommendation. The
centralized policy manual brings clear, searchable information to the
worker. An accurate, back-end rules engine applying the correct
eligibility determination eliminates manual workarounds for the worker
and reduces errors.
- Initial
development of a new worker portal to improve case management.
- Funds
a comprehensive study to establish a phased roadmap for modern, universal,
cross agency eligibility determination capability across human services
programs.
Member comments:
- Rep.
Nathan Nelson noted that the MAXIS system might be worse than SSIS.
- Response:
- MAXIS
is used for SNAP, the cash assistance programs, as well as child care
and other ancillary programs.
- Agrees,
it is a very old system due to years of layering, etc.
- Any
federal or state policy changes require years sometimes to put things
into place within the existing system
- Lots
of conversations with counties regarding incremental fixes
- A
complete “all in one system” is something that we may not want to do
- We
are learning from other states’ experiences
- Rep.
Joe McDonald inquired where the $200 million in previous IT allocations
went. Stated that if we can get anything done this year, hopefully, we can
address MAXIS.
- Chair
Kotyza Witthuhn: fair question as to how the funds have been utilized.
- Response:
- DCYF
has received some funds from the Service Delivery Transformation Fund;
the remaining dollars are at DHS.
- $3.8
million was transferred from DHS to DCYF for MAXIS notices.
Human Services
Redesign: The Governor
recommends investing $2.246 million in FY 2027 and $1.296 million in FY 2028-29
for transforming the administration of Minnesota’s human services system to
streamline program operations and improve consistency and access to care
statewide. The larger Human Services Redesign proposal includes changes to the
Medicaid program and MnCHOICES at DHS.
It also funds a
study to assess state and county roles for administering human services
programs.
- Funds
a study to review programs operated by DCYF: $2.5 million is dedicated to
conduct a study that assesses state and county roles for administering
economic assistance and food support, child support, and child care
programs, as well as provider licensing and fraud investigations
functions. The study will:
- Identify
and assess the current roles and responsibilities held by counties and
the State for oversight and administration of these functions
- Evaluate
impacts on efficiencies, effectiveness, and outcomes associated with
county administered and state-administered models
- Estimate
current costs for county administered functions and the fiscal impact of
moving to a state-administered system
- Analyze
current financing models and resources that support county-administered
human services and the impact of shifting them to support a state
administered models
- Assess
policy, legal, operational, IT, human resource, and other changes needed
to shift county administered functions to the state
Committee
documents:
Wednesday Senate Human Services: The following bills were all laid over for
possible inclusion in the committee’s omnibus bill:
- SF4310 (Lieske) framework rates
reenactment for family residential services
Combined Written Testimony
- SF4626 (Lieske) modifies county
cost-share requirements for economically distressed counties
A-2 Amendment; adopted:
Clarifies that the commissioner must not
require any other county to pay to the state any portion of the cost of
substance use disorder services subject to the exception in this proposal.
- SF2630 (Hoffman) Governor's Council on
an Age-Friendly Minnesota; codifying existing grants, and appropriation
A-1 Amendment
AARP Support
MBA Support
- SF4728 (Rasmusson) modifies nursing
facility level of care for purposes of certain home and community-based
waiver services (BI and CADI). Changes eligibility criteria to ensure
resources are available for those who need the services most. The goal is
to divert individuals to other MA services that may be more suitable, such
as PCAs, etc. Sen. Rasmusson indicated that earlier projections reflected
savings in the $42 to $51 million range over the biennium.
Testimony:
- Paul
Verette (MACSSA and AMC) testified, asking that any savings from this
proposal be counted toward the LTSS county cost shift target.
- Legal
Aid testified in opposition to the bill.
- MNCCD Opposition Letter
- SF4710 (Abeler) allows for behavioral
health fund payments for uncollectible withdrawal management debt.
Supportive
testimony came from Brian Zirbes and Mike Bellkowski of MARCH.
Written testimony:
Thursday House Human Services:
The following
bills were all heard and laid over for possible omnibus bill inclusion.
- HF2068 (Keeler) Homeless Youth Act
grants funding provided, and money appropriated. Bill Summary
- HF4725 (Norris), a NAMI Minnesota
initiative, the bill is modeled after Nebraska’s Mental Health and
Substance Use Disorder Education Center. Its intent is to increase the
number and diversity of providers and peers working in mental health and
substance use disorder treatment and to facilitate a culturally-informed,
responsive workforce. Bill Summary
- HF4637 (Noor)
extends an existing appropriation for a direct care services corps pilot
project. Bill Summary
Author’s DE1 Amendment; adopted
- HF4638 (Noor) requires compliance
training for high-risk MA providers; requires disclosure of the use of
consultants to prepare license applications
HF4638 Idil Abdull Testimony
Thursday Senate Health and Human ServicesHearing
Link
- SF5047 (Wicklund) establishes
uncompensated care relief programs for hospitals, community-based safety
net providers, and EMS. Informational only
Testimony
in support of the measure came from EMTs, the Hospital Association, the Wilder
Foundation, and the Community Health Centers (Minnesota’s 17 FQHCs).
Written
Testimony:
o Uncompensated Care Fund One Pager
o Woodland Centers
o CLUES
o Fraser
o Mental Health Resources
o Alluma
o MACMHP
o Spero
o Range Mental Health Center
o Wilder Foundation
The following
bills were all heard and laid over for possible omnibus bill inclusion:
- SF3822 (Fateh)
Use of prior authorization and step therapy prohibition for drugs used in
the treatment of opioid use disorder under MA
Author’s 1A Delete All Amendment; adopted. In order to address fiscal
constraints, narrows the scope of the proposal to cover one drug only
(buprenorphine), which the author called the “gold standard of care.”
SF3822 Fiscal Note
- SF8 (Boldon)MA coverage provision of Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model
Author’s Delete All A-2 Amendment
Fiscal Note
- SF3705 (Mann) requires that health plan
companies credential and contract with certain providers of mental health
services. Bill Summary
- SF4933 (Wiklund) MA reimbursement
rates increase for mental health services
- SF4672 (Wiklund) Mental health
technical changes and modifications: In response to a recent OLA
performance audit of behavioral health grants, the bill updates languages
related to both adult and children’s mental health services to reflect
that both have their own grant status in other statutes.
- SF4783 (Utke) requires DHS to use
expedited rulemaking to amend rules to clearly
include kickbacks in the definition of "fraud.” Sen. Utke explained
that the bill comes from the recent review of the EIDBI program wherein
DHS indicated that they did not have the authority to investigate
allegations of kickbacks related to the program.
Thursday House Floor Session: On
a unanimous vote of 134-0,SF3402 (Virnig) passed the House floor. It modifies
the definition of “medical consultant” in Chapter 145A (Community Health
Boards) by expanding the list of professionals who may act as medical
consultants for community health boards. In current law, “medical consultant”
is limited to physicians licensed to practice medicine in Minnesota. SF3402
expands the licensed professionals eligible to doctors of osteopathic medicine,
physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses certified to
practice as a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. The bill is
effective the day after final enactment (after Governor signs).
Thursday Senate State and Local Government: SF2689 (Johnson
Stewart) Modifying provisions governing Medicaid fraud. The bill passed and
was referred to Judiciary where it will be heard on Monday. Bill Summary
Author’s A-4 Amendment; adopted
Friday Senate Judiciary: SF4204
(Oumou Verbeten) authorizes the cultivation, possession, transportation, and
personal use of psilocybin by individuals 21 years of age or older; establishes
protections; establishes public education and harm reduction programs;
establishes a Psychedelic Medicine Board. The bill was laid over.
A-4 Technical Amendment; adopted
Bill
Introductions:
- SF4933 (Wiklund) Medical assistance
reimbursement rates increase for mental health services
- SF4950 (Oumou Verbeten) Medical
assistance coverage establishment of culturally specific health and
wellness services
- SF4954 (Lang) Constitutional Amendment
proposal to prohibit unfunded mandates by the state to local governments
- SF4957 (Pha) Registered designated
caregivers provisions modifications and increasing patient and cannabis
plant limits expansion provision
- SF4969 (Rasmusson)/HF4909 (Schomacker) Commissioner of
management and budget direction to include detailed medical assistance
costs in the state forecast
- SF4970 (Rasmusson)/HF4803 (Dippel) Electronic visit
verification requirements modification
- SF4982 (Hemmingsen-Jaeger)/HF4840 (Frederick) Lease-purchase
agreement and the sale and issuance of certificates of participation to
fund improvements to or replacement of the state's MAXIS system
authorization provision and appropriation
- SF5021 (Wiklund) Federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program Disallowances modification
- SF5029 (Hoffman)/HF4899 (Frederick) Direct Care and
Treatment authorization to accept gifts on behalf of patients and clients;
Direct Care and Treatment x-ray and security screening system requirements
modification; County correctional facility support pilot program
appropriation availability extension
- HF4808 (Torkelson)/SF5020 (Wiklund) Information technology
modernization account establishment
- HF4833 (Bierman) Mobile crisis grants
and protected transport start-up grants funding provided, and money
appropriated.
- HF4851 (Virnig) Requirements for grant
administration policies and training added.
- HF4896 (Hicks) New secure psychiatric
residential treatment facility operated by Direct Care and Treatment
funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
- HF4925 (Igo) Housing development fund
expenditure provisions modified, and allowed expenditures for the
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency repealed.
- HF4929 (Robbins) Failure to report
theft, embezzlement, or unlawful use of public funds criminal penalties
provided.
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