Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee

Background

Waiver Reimagine is the name of ongoing work DHS is doing to make system-level improvements to Minnesota’s four disability waiver programs, including:

• Creating a common service menu across all disability waivers (completed)
• Reshaping the four current disability waivers into two
• Moving people to individual budgets.

For people who receive services and their families, the Waiver Reimagine project will:

• Make it easier to describe the services they want
• Provide information about services and budgets to give people more choice and control over planning services and supports
• Provide equitable access to services and funding across waiver programs, regardless of disability and in which county or tribal nation a person lives
• Increase options to self-direct services, use technology and remote supports as alternative support options.

Details

Who are the members of the committee?

During the 2021 First Special Session, the Minnesota Legislature authorized DHS to create the Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee to provide input on the continuing development and implementation of Waiver Reimagine. See Laws 2021, First Special Session, chapter 7, article 13, section 75, subdivision 3.

DHS has appointed 33 members to the Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee (WRAC) under the following legislatively determined categories:

• People with a disability who use disability waiver services (10 members)
• Family members, guardians or unpaid caregivers of a person with a disability (seven members)
• Disability or behavioral health advocates (five members)
• Disability waiver service providers (five members)
• Lead agency (county, waiver alliance or tribal nation) representatives (five members)
• Minnesota tribal nation representative (one member).

Find a list of members  on the secretary of state's Board/Commission: Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee webpage.

How often will the committee meet?

The WRAC will start meeting in March 2022. The meetings will be held virtually every other month for a total of six meetings per year.

What is the term of office?

The first terms of half the members must end at the same time as the current governor’s, according to statute. Gov. Walz’s current term ends in January 2023. Terms for members will run from January 2022 to January 2023 or January 2022 to January 2024. Members will have the option of re-applying after their term ends.

Members who are appointed in the categories of people who use disability waiver services or a parent, guardian, family member or unpaid primary caregiver of a person who uses disability waiver service will receive compensation of $55 per meeting as well as some reimbursement for child care expenses they incur.

Get involved

How do I apply to be a member?

Applications are currently open for some positions. Visit the WRAC application page to apply. Applications will be open until Oct. 24, 2022.

Check back here and the Waiver Reimagine page for more stakeholder engagements and events.

2025 meetings

The Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee meets every other month. We have listed past and upcoming meetings below, as well as the materials for each meeting (as they become available).

The public may view the event on the Minnesota DHS YouTube page. To view the livestream:

1. Visit the Minnesota DHS YouTube page
2. About 10 minutes before the meeting start time, you will see a video under the Minnesota DHS logo and name
3. Click on the video to watch and listen.

CART captions  will be available during the meeting

2024 meetings

The Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee meets every other month. We have listed past and upcoming meetings below, as well as the materials for each meeting (as they become available).

The public may view the event on the Minnesota DHS YouTube page. To view the livestream:

1. Visit the Minnesota DHS YouTube page
2. About 10 minutes before the meeting start time, you will see a video under the Minnesota DHS logo and name
3. Click on the video to watch and listen.

CART captions  will be available during the meeting

Prior year meetings

2023 meetings

2022 meetings

Optional informational meetings

DHS is hosting optional meetings to provide members with more background on Medicaid and waivers in general. Members and the public may view the event on the Minnesota DHS YouTube page. To view the livestream:

1. Visit the Minnesota DHS YouTube page
2. About 10 minutes before the meeting start time, you will see a video under the Minnesota DHS logo and name
3. Click on the video to watch and listen.

CART captions  will be available during the meeting

Resources

DHS has published the findings from the Waiver Reimagine project in the Waiver Reimagine Project Legislative Report (PDF). This report is the summary of the work done during 2018. The report presents a complete picture of the recommendations for both the individual budget and waiver reconfiguration studies. See the Resources tab on the Waiver Reimagine website for more information.

Below are resources and programs to help WRAC members and other interested parties to find out more about the potential impacts of Waiver Reimagine.

Disability HUB MN

• Virtual Insight Panel
• Join the VIP

Affordable, safe and accessible housing

• Subscribe to Minnesota Olmstead News
• Comments to the Olmstead Accessible Housing Workgroup
• Use HousingLink to find an affordable rental apartment in Minnesota.
• HB101 Minnesota
• DHS Housing programs and services webpage.

Workforce shortage

• Direct care workforce shortage in Minnesota webpage

Technology education/resources

• 2021 Technology First Advisory Task Force Legislative Report (PDF)
• Minnesota Networking in Education and Assistive Technology (MN NEAT) events

Case management redesign

Case management redesign high level summary of draft service design (PDF)

CFSS implementation

• DHS Community First Services and Supports webpage
• CFSS Implementation Council webpage
• CFSS eList announcements signup

Gaps analysis for long-term services and supports

DHS Gaps Analysis webpage

MnCHOICES

DHS MnCHOICES webpage

Subscribing to eLists

Subscribe to DSD’s lead agency or stakeholder elists to receive notification of public comment periods.

Disability services contact form

Use the DSD Contact Form to contact the Disability Services Division for general questions and technical assistance related to home and community-based services and supports.