Understanding Minnesota home care programs: where to start

If you are asking how home and community support could be funded, start with the person's needs and the agency responsible for reviewing eligibility. A provider can discuss its services and availability, but a service list does not establish which program covers a particular person's support.

Updated October 5, 2026. This introduction points to current state information and questions to bring to the responsible team; it does not determine eligibility or personal costs.

Clarify which program is being discussed

Minnesota's waiver names refer to different programs. In particular, CADI means Community Access for Disability Inclusion; CAC means Community Alternative Care. They are not interchangeable names. Other programs include the Brain Injury (BI), Developmental Disabilities (DD), and Elderly Waiver (EW) programs. Read the Minnesota DHS waiver overview and ask the responsible agency which program is relevant to the person's circumstances.

Do not assume a service available under one program is covered by every other program. Ask about the specific service, the assessed need and the authorization process. If costs or financial eligibility are unclear, request an explanation from the agency that handles those decisions rather than relying on a general statement about free care.

Start an assessment conversation

MnCHOICES is Minnesota's assessment and support-planning approach. The county and tribal contact directory provides a starting point for asking about local processes.

Prepare a few examples of everyday life: what the person wants to do, what already works, where help is wanted and what support is currently available. Ask what to bring, how to arrange communication support and who will explain the next steps. Our assessment-preparation worksheet helps organize that conversation.

Check current information about PCA, CSG and CFSS

Older documents may refer to Personal Care Assistance (PCA) or the Consumer Support Grant (CSG). Minnesota began the transition from those programs to Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) in October 2024. Use the DHS CFSS questions for people receiving services and ask the responsible agency about the person's current arrangement and any remaining transition questions.

This reference does not mean Clemens Health offers CFSS. Discuss provider enrollment and the specific service with the relevant agency and prospective provider.

Separate program, service and provider questions

A useful conversation keeps three questions distinct:

1. Program: Which eligibility and funding process applies to the person?
2. Service: What support is assessed, proposed or authorized?
3. Provider: Who can deliver the agreed support at the requested place and time?

For example, learning a service name does not confirm a worker for a particular evening. A completed referral does not itself approve hours. Use the authorization and staffing worksheet to record what is confirmed and what remains open.

Discuss support with Clemens Health

Our priority service pages explain IHS without training, IHS with training, and night supervision. Bring service questions to your case manager and contact us about your Twin Cities location and proposed schedule.

Call (651) 354-1196, contact the team, or use the referral checklist. A start date depends on the confirmed service arrangement, authorization and available staffing.