Waiver Reimagine is the name of ongoing work DHS is doing to simplify waiver services, reshape the waiver program structure and transition to an individual budgeting model for people who access disability waivers. With these changes, services and supports will align with a person’s needs—not their diagnoses.
Through Waiver Reimagine, DHS will align the disability waiver system with self-direction, independent living and employment-first policies passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 2020. The goals of Waiver Reimagine are to:
These goals will result in a more streamlined, simplified and person-centered service system for people with disabilities in Minnesota.
The 2017 Minnesota Legislature required DHS to conduct two studies to identify efficiencies, simplifications and improvements to the four home and community-based service (HCBS) waiver programs for people with disabilities. For information about these studies, visit Waiver Reimagine reports.
The 2019 Minnesota Legislature authorized DHS to make system-level improvements to Minnesota’s disability waiver programs in a two-phase process to implement Waiver Reimagine changes. The following graphic shows DHS’ timeline to implement phase 1 and phase 2 Waiver Reimagine system changes:
The first phase streamlined and simplified the waiver service menu across the four waivers.
The simplified menu became available in January 2021. It combines 12 previous services into six new options. People will receive these new services on a rolling basis, either as part of their annual reassessment or during a service change. With the completion of the first phase, the system is now prepared for the second phase.
The second phase will implement individual budgets and reshape the four disability waiver programs into two. The 2019 Minnesota Legislature asked DHS to conduct further research, analysis and stakeholder engagement for implementing the second phase of Waiver Reimagine. DHS will include these findings in the 2021 Waiver Reimagine legislative report.
To gather feedback, we will host a series of online events between August and November of 2020.
Waiver Reimagine reports, including the project legislative report and detailed reports on work done throughout the project.
A resource for lead agencies and providers about Waiver Reimagine and the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS)