DHS to Begin Issuing Medicaid Termination Letters due to Potential for Government Shutdown

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

In the event of a state government shutdown, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will cease payments to providers of Medicaid services. Per the statutory obligation, DHS will begin to inform Medicaid providers, including aging services providers who serve Medicaid clients, via letters that will be sent out as early as this week.

The state government will shut down if the legislature does not agree upon and pass a balanced budget by June 30 at 11:59 p.m. However, we are confident lawmakers will reach an agreement to fund the state government before their deadline.

If an agreement is not reached in the upcoming days, we anticipate DHS will begin to send letters to Medicaid clients next week.

Today, the Long-term Care Imperative is conducting its shortest survey to date. It is just one question and intended to inform legislators and the administration about your setting's ability to withstand not being paid by Medicaid in the event of a July 1 state shutdown. In addition, there is a comments box if you want to share more about your situation as we head into a potential shutdown.

This week’s survey collects the critical information needed to advocate on your behalf and raise the seriousness of the issue with legislators and the administration. To help us in our advocacy as the shutdown deadline looms, please respond by 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 17, so we can gauge the possible impact of any interruption in state payments on your ability to meet payroll obligations.