Minnesota’s 2015 Legislative session concluded with many victories and one major disappointment for the disability community. Below is a brief results summary of a few key accomplishments that passed and were signed into law by Governor Dayton. These include important initiatives championed by ARRM, MN-CCD, ARC and other organizations.
While The 5% Campaign was unsuccessful in securing a rate increase for Home and Community Based-Services and ICFs/DD this year, its thousands of strong supporters did raise awareness of the need and position HCBS for an increase in 2016. (If you missed it, view Hammer's video covering the 5% rally in March.)
Leaders from The 5% Campaign are already planning for the 2016 session. The job is not done yet, and ARRM is counting on its supporters to lend their voices to the cause this summer, fall and into the next year.
Note: ARRM trainings this summer and fall will cover the latest legislative changes and their upshots in depth. Details will be posted on our Training & Event Calendar as soon as they are available.
Adopted legislation championed by ARRM:
- Disability Waiver Rate Setting (DWRS): Provisions negotiated by the DWRS Coalition, DHS, counties and other stakeholders were adopted in the HHS Omnibus Finance Bill that Governor Dayton signed into law on May 22nd. Changes in the areas of underspending, banding, trainings for counties, staffing ratios, transportation and the exception process were all included.
- Investigations and Sanctions: ARRM introduced a bill to address changes in the severity of licensing sanctions and to align Statues 245A and 245D. Many of the issues presented in the bill ARRM introduced have been resolved administratively between ARRM and the Office of Inspector General, however two provisions that required legislative remedies were adopted in the HHS Omnibus Bill.
- 245A and 245D Reforms: Over the past two years ARRM negotiated a number of needed changes in both 245A and 245D with many stakeholders- and ultimately with several legislators.
Other notable accomplishments for the disability community this year include:
- Medical Assistance Spend-Down: The MA excess income standard (spend down) was changed from 75 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline to 80 percent, effective July 1, 2016.
- Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD): The legislature repealed the Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) premium increase that took effect in 2014.
- ABLE Act: $105,000 in funding for ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts was adopted. The plan encourages savings to support individuals with disabilities to maintain health, quality of life and independence.
- State Quality Council Funding: The Council had been operating without an appropriation and this session was allocated $1.2 million for the next biennium, plus additional federal money.
ARRM Members can visit our Daily Dispatch Blog for a more detailed account of important legislation (led by ARRM and others) impacting the disability community this session.
--Sara Grafstrom, Director of Advocacy and Community Relations
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