Beginning July 1 the Minnesota Department of Human Services will enroll providers to deliver a new early intensive intervention Medical Assistance benefit for children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Families and children will be able to access services later this summer. Under the new benefit, covered services will be designed to improve social interaction, communication and behavioral regulation skills at a critical time in development, promoting fuller participation by children in their family, schools and community life. Families interested in the new benefit should contact their county, tribe or managed care plan. More information is available in a news release and on the DHS website.

A new online publication from DHS provides information about DHS public health care programs and MNsure for county, tribal and state eligibility workers. DHS public health care programs and MNsure: Weekly information for county, tribal and state eligibility workers is available on the CountyLink website. DHS created the update in an effort to keep county, tribal and state eligibility workers informed about news and information that affects their work.

DHS and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently launched a new State Innovation Model (SIM) Minnesota website at mn.gov/sim. In February 2013 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation awarded Minnesota a $45 million SIM testing grant to be implemented during a three-year period ending October 2016. The goal is to help Minnesota providers and communities work together to create healthier futures for Minnesotans. Minnesota will use the grant money to test new ways of delivering and paying for health care using the Minnesota Accountable Health Model. Minnesotas SIM initiative is a joint effort between the departments of Human Services and Health with support from Gov. Mark Daytons office.

Minnesotans in need of health care, nutrition assistance, child care assistance and emergency assistance can apply online through ApplyMN, applymn.dhs.mn.gov. This site allows Minnesotans for the first time to fill out a single application online for a majority of public assistance programs.

The Family Self Sufficiency and Health Care Program Statistics available through July 2015 (PDF) is available on the DHS public website. The report includes caseload numbers and expenditures for cash, emergency and food assistance programs and health care programs.

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