The end of the Minnesota Disability Health Options Program (MnDHO) is coming soon, yet not everyone covered through the program has started to make plans for a transition. That concerns staff of the program, who want to make sure everyone is covered and be assured everyone is making informed decisions.
In February, it was announced that MnDHO or UCare Complete would be ending on Jan. 1, 2011. In a recent update, UCare staff reminded clients that member meetings to explain the transition are coming up soon. Invitations to meetings have been sent out.
Those meetings, which began Aug. 6, will continue through September. At those meetings staff from UCare, AXIS Healthcare, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), the Disability/Senior Linkage Lines, and county human service agencies will provide resources and information about program options. These meetings are essential in making a good decision for your particular needs.
Many of the MnDHO clients receive home and community-based services such as personal care attendant (PCA) and waiver services. The Department of Human Services will work with the counties to plan for the transition of these services from UCare to a client’s home county. For those who are eligible, home and community-based services will be managed through the county fee-for-service system. This important transition of services will be addressed in the meetings this summer and fall.
Upcoming meeting dates and places are:
• Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1–3 p.m., Central Square Community Center, North & South Centennial Rooms, 100 7th Ave. N, South St. Paul
• Friday, Aug. 20, 1–3 p.m., Maplewood Community Center, Room C, 2100 White Bear Ave. N., Maplewood
• Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1–3 p.m., Ridgedale Library, RHR Room, 12601 Ridgedale Dr. Minnetonka
• Friday, Sept. 10, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., UCare, Training Rooms A & B, 500 Stinson Blvd. NE, Minneapolis
• Friday, Sept. 17, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., UCare, Training Rooms A & B, 500 Stinson Blvd. NE, Minneapolis
Information on the changes is being posted on the MnDHO section of the UCare web site. Go to www.ucare.org and choose “UCare Complete” from among the choices under the “Health Programs” tab on the top menu.
Other assistance is available. Clients can call UCare at (612) 676-3200 or toll free at (800) 203-7225. The information is available in other forms to people with disabilities by calling (612) 676-3200 (voice) or toll free at (800) 203-7225 (voice), (612) 676-6810 (TTY) or toll free at (800) 688-2534 (TTY); or through the Minnesota Relay at 711 or toll free direct access at (800) 627-3529 (TTY, Voice, ASCII, Hearing Carry Over), or (877) 627-3848 (speech to speech relay service).
Or clients can call their UCare representatives at (612) 676-3554 or (800) 707-1711 (toll free), or the Disability Linkage Line at (866) 333-2466 (toll free). Clients who are hearing impaired can call the TTY line at (612) 676-6810 or (800) 688-2534 (toll free).
