Primary navigation

    The State Medical Review Team (SMRT)

    The State Medical Review Team (SMRT) makes disability determinations for people not certified disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SMRT completes disability determinations according to disability criteria defined by the SSA. The county, tribal or state servicing agency submits a referral to SMRT on behalf of the person to start the process.  

    A SMRT will do a certification of disability is one part of establishing eligibility for:

    • Medical Assistance (MA), Minnesota’s Medicaid program
    • MA under the TEFRA (Tax Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act) Option
    • Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD)
    • Home and community-based disability waiver programs (CAC, CADI, BI)
    • Family Support Grant (FSG)

    SMRT certification of disability for other reasons: 

    • To be excluded from managed care enrollment 
    • To enroll in Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC)
    • Age 65 and older to establish a pooled trust 
    • Creating certain trusts  

    To learn more about the programs and services offered for disabled people living in Minnesota, see the webpage for home and community services and supports. 

    At the end of the certification period, SMRT may complete a continuing disability review (CDR). Following SSA criteria, SMRT collects and examines current medical evidence to determine whether the severity of the person’s impairment has improved since the last review. 

    There are several forms used in the process (edocs):
    DHS-3883-ENG (PDF) State Medical Review Team (SMRT) Education and Work History Form
    DHS-6124-ENG (PDF) SMRT Authorization to Release Protected Health Information
    DHS-6125-ENG (PDF) State Medical Review Team (SMRT) Adult Disability Worksheet
    DHS-6125B-ENG (PDF) State Medical Review Team (SMRT) Adult Continuing Disability Review Worksheet
    DHS-6126-ENG (PDF) State Medical Review Team (SMRT) Children's Disability Worksheet
    DHS-6126B-ENG (PDF) State Medical Review Team (SMRT) Children's Disability Review Worksheet
    DHS-3549-ENG (PDF) General Consent/Authorization for Release of Information
    Legislative Reports for the last 3 FY:
    DHS-8080-ENG (PDF) Activities of the State Medical Review Team 2020

    SMRT received 5,929 referrals in fiscal year 2021 that included the following:

    • The average SMRT client was 28 years old. 
    • 70% did not have health care coverage at referral. 
    • 33% had an active application for SSA disability benefits. 
    • 16% were in the hospital in the three months before they were referred to SMRT.
    • The average length of time from referral to a decision was 88 days. 
    • The average number of phone calls handled by SMRT staff each month is 4,541.

    smrt-fy-2021-pie-chart 
    Of the 5,929 FY 2021 referrals, SMRT:

    •  Certified 4,235 (72%)

    •  Denied 599 (10%)

    •  Pending 240 (4%)


    Applicants withdrew 855 referrals (14%). 




    For program information, see the following:

    For accessible formats of this information or assistance with additional equal access to human services, send email to DHS.info@state.mn.us, call 877-627-3848, or use your preferred relay service.

    Find information about how to request a MnCHOICES Assessment at:
    DHS-7283-ENG 7-17-20 (state.mn.us) (PDF)
    MnCHOICES (state.mn.us)

    If you have questions or need assistance completing your forms, call the SMRT hotline or contact your disability analyst.
    SMRT hotline: 651-431-2493 or 800-235-7396
    SMRT fax: 651-431-7457
    Mailing address: PO Box 64248, St. Paul, MN 55164-0248

    back to top