MnCHOICES Assessment Duration of Validity Extended

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Bobbie Guidry

Effective July 1, 2025, MnCHOICES initial assessments will be valid for 365 days from the interview date to establish program eligibility, extended from the current validity of 60 days.

Reason for Extension

As reported in the LeadingAge Minnesota 2024 Legislative Report, this change was made because it is currently common for an initial assessment to expire before the process for medical assistance is completed, requiring a new assessment to be performed.

The change, established in Minn. Stat. §256B.0911, subd. 20 extends an assessment’s validity that is completed as part of an eligibility determination for multiple programs, including: alternative care, elderly waiver, developmental disabilities, community access for disability inclusion, community alternative care and brain injury waiver programs.

Eligibility Update

While this policy only applies to people with MnCHOICES initial assessments completed on or after July 1, 2025, DHS will approve the use of an EU (eligibility update) for limited circumstances such as people in an assisted living facility requesting EW funding for services from the day of their initial interview.