What’s new for: Health Care

DHS launches ApplyMN online application for assistance programs

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.

Court reaffirms: Funds won’t impact eligibility for benefits, programs

A court order issued April 23 reaffirms that settlement funds received by clients under an agreement on a class action related to treatment at Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) will not count as resources for purposes of the clients’ eligibility for disability benefits or programs. The class action was filed on behalf of residents with developmental disabilities who were restrained or secluded at METO, a department-operated facility in Cambridge. More detailed information and copies of the court orders, including the April 23 order, are online. All clients in the class action received a copy of the April 23 order from the court. DHS also sent information about the latest court order to county staff statewide including county directors, supervisors, attorneys, health care liaisons and financial workers. The METO program closed July 1, 2011.

Rx rebates grow by $80 million per year with addition of managed care

The work of numerous Health Care Administration staff, led by the pharmacy rebate team, is responsible for an estimated $80 million decrease in spending per year for Medical Assistance (MA). The savings come from rebates the state is collecting from manufacturers for drugs provided to MA enrollees through managed care plans. These significant savings contributed to lowering projected health costs in the state’s November budget forecast. More information is in a story about the rebates.

Self-sufficiency and health care statistics report is online

The Family Self Sufficiency and Health Care Program Statistics available through March 2013 (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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