What 2026 legislative changes mean for Minnesota’s new Disability Waiver Program

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has launched a new Waiver Reimagine website to help people, families, providers, lead agencies and other partners learn about and prepare for upcoming changes.

We will continue to update and expand the new website with current information, resources, and implementation updates to support understanding and preparation for Waiver Reimagine.

This current website will be removed on July 24. We encourage you to begin using the new website for the most up-to-date information.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we prepare for Waiver Reimagine.

Waiver Reimagine update: What 2026 legislative changes mean for Minnesota’s new Disability Waiver Program

The work to implement a new Disability Waiver Program through Waiver Reimagine continues to move forward. As we plan for successful implementation, DHS is reviewing legislative changes passed during the 2026 session that provide additional direction for what we will need to launch.

The goal of the new Disability Waiver Program remains the same: A waiver program that is simpler, more equitable and sustainable for the future.

Implementation timeline

As noted in our previous update, we cannot launch the new Disability Waiver Program by Jan. 1, 2027. We have not determined the new launch date yet.

We know that the program will launch through a rolling, phased approach after the following events occur:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approves new waiver plans.
Note: Before we ask for CMS approval, the new legislative changes require the DHS commissioner to consult with the Olmstead Implementation Office. This is to make sure the new program aligns with Olmstead’s goals to support inclusive living.
People receive an assigned support range and corresponding budget range through a MnCHOICES assessment at least 12 months before launch. This is for their planning purposes only.

Progress and plans

In the previous update, we shared several activities we expected to move forward during 2026, including:

Sharing information about budgeted services and supports.
Releasing Minnesota’s updated CMS waiver application for public comment.

We are reevaluating the timing of these activities to align with the new Disability Waiver Program implementation timeline. The work remains underway. Some activities might occur later than we anticipated.

Current work includes:

Continuing development of a budget exception process.
Preparing Minnesota’s updated CMS waiver application and the materials needed for public review and federal approval.
Designing and testing the technology systems, business processes and tools needed to support implementation.
Planning for the online, accessible information portal to help people make informed choices about disability waiver services.
Engaging with the community through opportunities such as the Expert Panel and Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine.

We know many people want more specific information about when the new Disability Waiver Program will launch and how it will affect them. We do not have those answers yet. We will continue sharing information, what we are still working through and decisions as they are made.

Visit the new Disability Waiver Program website

As mentioned above, the new Disability Waiver Program website is live and serves as the central source for information, updates and resources throughout implementation. We will add to the website as we develop details about the new program.

Stay connected

Here are ways for you to stay informed and share feedback:

Subscribe for weekly email updates to receive announcements, resources and information from DSD, including quarterly updates about the new Disability Waiver Program.
Join an input panel to help inform training, tools and communications:
- People with disabilities and families: Sign up for the Virtual Insight Panel.
- Professionals: Sign up for the Professional Insight Panel.
Use the public feedback form to share priorities and questions. We cannot respond to individual submissions, but your input will inform FAQs, training materials, website content and future communications.

Read previous quarterly Waiver Reimagine updates:

March 2026

IMPORTANT NOTE

The information in the tabs below is published for historical purposes only. DHS Is not updating the information as we work on a new Waiver Reimagine website. Double check any information in the tabs below before acting on it. We will let you know when the new website launches.

Phase 2
History
Resources
FAQ

Phase 2

During the 2021 first special session, the Minnesota Legislature authorized DHS to begin the next phase of the Waiver Reimagine project to support and expand informed choices and informed decision making by:
- Reshaping the four current disability waiver programs into a two-waiver structure
- Moving people who use disability waivers to individualized budgets
- Increasing access to and options for self-directed services
- Developing a web-based online support-planning tool for people with disabilities and their families. The tool will provide information about their assessment, support plan, services, budgets and resources to help them plan for services.
Public engagement

DHS will continue consulting with people who receive services and other interested parties over the next several years on different aspects of the project. We will notify people who receive services and other interested parties about specific engagement opportunities as they are available.

As part of the Phase 2 authorization, the Legislature created the Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee, which has now completed its work. In 2025, the Legislature created a new Waiver Reimagine Task Force, which is currently being formed.

Project timelines

In addition to the ongoing policy and system development under way to support Phase 2, DHS has completed the following work

2025
- Continued engagement of interested parties and policy development focused on budget exceptions, self-direction policy, support planning and waiver budget management. Gather public comment on two new waiver plans: Submit federal 1915c waiver plans to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for two new waivers. Gather updated service and assessment data, including the MnCHOICES revision.
2026
- Continued to analyze MnCHOICES and MMIS data to update individual budget methodology. Work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for waiver plan approval.
- In March 2026, DHS announced that Waiver Reimagine will be delayed. A number of challenges emerged and the agency cannot effectively design, communicate and launch a new disability waiver program by Jan. 1, 2027.
History

2017-2018
- The 2017 Minnesota Legislature required DHS to conduct two studies to identify efficiencies, simplifications and improvements to the four home and community-based service (HCBS) waiver programs for people with disabilities. For information about these studies, visit Waiver Reimagine reports.
2019-2020
- The 2019 Minnesota Legislature authorized DHS to make system-level improvements to Minnesota’s disability waiver programs in a two-phase process to implement Waiver Reimagine changes, starting with creating common services across all disability waivers. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the waiver amendments to simplify and streamline the service menu.
- DHS also conducted further research and analysis, developed policy recommendations and consulted with interested parties to help plan Phase 2 of Waiver Reimagine. DHS included these findings in a report to the Legislature, Waiver Reimagine – Phase 1 Service Streamline and Phase 2 Recommendations for Reshaping Waivers and Individualized Budgets (PDF) (January 2021).
2021
- The simplified/common service menu became available in January 2021
- During the 2021 1st Special Session, the Minnesota Legislature authorized DHS to implement Phase 2 of the Waiver Reimagine project, which includes reshaping the four current disability waivers into a two-waiver structure and transitioning to individualized budgets.
Waiver Reimagine Phase 1 (completed)

The first phase streamlined and simplified the waiver service menu across the four waivers.

The simplified menu became available in January 2021. It combines 12 previous services into six new options. People will receive these new services on a rolling basis, either as part of their annual reassessment or during a service change. With the completion of the first phase, the system is now prepared for the second phase.
Resources

DHS has published the findings from the Waiver Reimagine project in the Waiver Reimagine Project Legislative Report (PDF). This report is the summary of the work done during 2018. The report presents a complete picture of the recommendations for both the individual budget and waiver reconfiguration studies. Below you will find more detailed reports on the work that was done throughout the study that ultimately resulted in the recommendations included in the legislative reports, organized by study.

The 2019 Minnesota Legislature asked DHS to conduct further research, analysis and stakeholder engagement for implementing the second phase of Waiver Reimagine. DHS included these findings in a report to the Legislature, Waiver Reimagine – Phase 1 Service Streamline and Phase 2 Recommendations for Reshaping Waivers and Individualized Budgets (PDF) (January 2021)

We will add more resources to this page as they are completed.
- 2020 Waiver Reimagine Communications and Engagement Summary Report, DHS-7841C (PDF): Explanation of Phase 1 of Waiver Reimagine and the feedback about the project from interested parties around Minnesota.
- December 2020 presentation: A System that Works Better for People (PDF): Presentation that explains the Waiver Reimagine project.
Individual budgeting
- Analysis of Budget Methodologies & Research Into Other State Activities: a comparison of budget model types and how they are used in other states (PDF) (4/16/18): Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) report of research into both Minnesota’s consumer-directed community supports budget methodology and individual budget methodologies used elsewhere.
- Analysis of MnCHOICES: report of analysis of MnCHOICES user data (PDF) (4/30/18): HSRI report of results from the analysis of MnCHOICES data.
- Budget Methodology Proposal: plan to develop the budget methodology (PDF) (5/31/18): HSRI proposal for Minnesota individual budget methodology.
- Review of Implementation Needs: implementation strategy for a new budget methodology (PDF) (5/31/18): HSRI report of individual budget implementation needs.
- Analysis of Service Use and Spending: a report of analysis on service utilization and cost for current waiver participants & four sets of utilization tables (PDF) (9/9/18): HSRI report of analysis for current use and spending patterns.
- Development of the Preliminary Support Range Framework: budget range descriptions as developed with expert panel (PDF) (10/1/18): HSRI proposal of support range frameworks.
- Development of the Preliminary Support Range Framework (PDF) (10/15/18): HSRI proposal of support range descriptions.
- Individual Budgeting Fiscal Impact Report: report on analysis of the fiscal impact of the budget methodology recommendations (PDF) (12/28/18): HSRI report of the fiscal impacts of the proposed individual budget model.
Waiver reconfiguration
- Analysis of Federal Authorities & Research Into Other State Activities: A Comparison of Waiver Authorities and Structure, and How They Are Used in Other States (PDF) (4/13/18): HSRI report of Medicaid history and home and community-based services (HCBS) authorities. Includes findings from six other states about how they deliver long-term services and supports based on their goals.
- HSRI report on Stakeholder Focused Discussions: A summary of the Stakeholder Engagement Effort (PDF) (6/4/18): Background and findings from discussions with interested parties about current experiences with home and community-based services in Minnesota.
- Feasibility & Recommendation Report: reconfiguration options and preliminary recommendation (PDF) (9/14/18): HSRI report on the research and review of Minnesota’s four current disability waivers (DD, CADI, CAC and BI) with reconfiguration options and recommendation.
- Waiver Transition Report: a plan and additional considerations for waiver implementation (PDF) (10/19/18): HSRI report on consolidation of four waivers into two based on living setting and how to achieve this goal.
FAQ

For questions and answers about waiver services and Waiver Reimagine, visit the Waiver Reimagine frequently asked questions page.