AdvocacyPolicy Information

2024 Advocacy Priorities

MOHR believes that Minnesotans with disabilities living in every part of the state should have access to high-quality employment and day support services. Accordingly, MOHR will actively work on the specific initiatives outlined below.

Continuing to strengthen the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS) such that it more accurately reflects the true cost of providing access to meaningful employment and day support services for Minnesotans with disabilities as well as the critical role of the Direct Support Professionals who provide those hands-on supports.
    1. Fully fund the Competitive Workforce Factor within DWRS, informed by the MN Department of Human Services’ bi-annual analysis of this factor. 
    2. Update the DWRS components to address increased provider costs associated with recently enacted employer requirements. 
    3. Address the issue of the Supervisory base wage component being less than Direct Support Professional base wage component within DWRS frameworks for certain services. 
    4. Continue to strengthen DWRS Transportation Cost Reporting to address the true cost of transportation across employment and day services.
Enhancing the critical employment supports provided to Minnesotans with disabilities through the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development.
    1. Increase ongoing funding for the Extended Employment services that support Minnesotans with disabilities to reach their competitive employment goals. 
    2. Influence the continued implementation of E1MN, aimed at better coordinating the overlap between employment supports provided through DHS and DEED and addressing areas of process and paperwork confusion.
Advancing system wide policy and funding reforms to move Employment and Day Services forward through innovation and streamlining.
    1. Seek reductions in requirements for redundant or non-value-added paperwork requirements. 
    2. Monitor implementation of 2023 funds as well as possible 2024 funding opportunities for grants funds focused on increasing competitive integrated employment. 
    3. Explore options for individuals served in independent employment that may need rapid re-entry services but not formal ongoing supports. 
    4. Allow for increased innovation in Day Support Services through increased ability to bill for indirect time, creating a day service under the unit based DWRS category, and allowing for hourly billing units.
    5. Monitor and share information on Waiver Reimagine and individual budgeting redesign. 
Engaging in meaningful workforce development activities, beyond critical wages and benefits advocacy, that will increase the interested pool of candidates to address the workforce shortage crisis in disability services.
    1. Connect MOHR members with various workforce development and talent pipeline development efforts currently underway in Minnesota. 
    2. Support pro-immigration groups to increase pipeline of workers. 
Responding to other relevant legislative proposals impacting Minnesotans with disabilities and MOHR service providers.