The Minnesota Department of Human Services has extended the public comment period for the latest round of evidentiary packages written for home and community-based settings (HCBS) across to June 9. 

The public comment period offers community members the opportunity to offer their comments describing the value of the setting to them or to the community, and how life in the setting is that of living in a community-based setting as described in the HCBS standards developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) below:

Standards that apply to all HCBS settings:

• Setting supports the person's opportunity to seek employment and work in competitive, integrated settings
• Setting supports the person's engagement in community life
• Setting supports the person's control of personal resources
• Setting supports receiving services in the community to the same degree of access as individuals not receiving Medicaid HCBS
• The person chooses setting from available setting options
• Ensure individual rights of privacy, dignity and respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint
• Optimize individual initiative, autonomy and independence in making life choices including daily schedule and with whom to interact
• Facilitate individual choice regarding services and supports and who provides them

Additional standards for provider-owned or -controlled residential settings:

• The person has a lease or other legally enforceable agreement
• Privacy in their bedroom or living unit including lockable doors
• Choice of roommates, if shared unit
• Freedom to furnish and decorate unit
• Freedom and support to control schedule and activities, including access to food at any time
• Able to have visitors at any time
• Physically accessible

Submit comments about any of the evidentiary packages by completing the Public comments on HCBS rule setting-specific evidentiary packages survey.

If assistance is needed to complete the survey or to request an alternative format to submit public comments, contact DHS at HCBS.Settings@state.mn.us or via email at:

ATTN: HCBS settings public comment
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Disability Services Division
P.O. Box 64967
St. Paul, MN 55164-0967