Providers of Remote Adult Day Services Under COVID-19 Waivers Provided Time for Transition
When Adult Day Service (ADS) sites were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, adult day service providers responded to the needs of their clients by developing a “remote” service. The services were permitted under a COVID-19 waiver, which will expire shortly after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
The service has proven a great benefit to elders and their caregivers, and a new mode of service was passed last legislative session to allow providers to license and provide remote adult day services on an ongoing basis. The new service is, however, distinctly different than the waivered services available during the PHE.
PHE ending on May 11
The PHE is planned to end on May 11. Several waivers were provided during the PHE, including that allowing for remote ADS will temporarily remain in place for up to six months. This wind-down period allows for a transition for providers who choose to continue remote services under the new provisions now in Minnesota Statute, which become operational on July 1.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) will provide training for providers and case managers on steps to complete to add the new service to licenses and to service authorizations prior to the July implementation date.
Remote ADS means “an individualized and coordinated set of services provided via live two-way communication by an adult day care or adult day services center.” To provide remote ADS, a provider must be licensed, and the client must be eligible for and receiving in-person services to receive remote services from the same provider. Specific record-keeping and service planning are also required.
In a 24-hour period, a participant may receive:
- A combination of in-person adult day services and remote adult day services on the same day but not at the same time;
- A combination of in-person and remote adult day services that does not exceed 12 hours in total; and
- Up to six hours of remote adult day service.
A participant who receives remote services must receive services in person as assigned in the participant's plan of care at least quarterly.
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