Human Services presents contract extensions, SNAP employment funds and fee-policy updates; board approves action items

Human Services Director Phil (surname not specified in transcript) presented multiple action items and informational reports to the Blue Earth County Board on April 22; the board approved the action items by voice vote.

Action items included a two‑year extension of a shared-services agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System, covering April 2025 through March 2027, which the director described as totaling $90,000 over two years (an increase of $10,000 per year). Staff also presented a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training allocation described in the packet as approximately $42,700 (staff referenced both $42,757 and $42,784 during the presentation); the board accepted the additional funds.

Human Services staff presented a revised fee policy that removes a 90‑day courtesy letter from prior practice and replaces it with three billing attempts while retaining a 10‑day appeal process. The policy also clarifies that administrative fees apply toward spend‑downs and deductibles. Staff discussed differential billing rates for mental health services by provider credential and said they adjusted federal poverty guideline references.

Informational items included billing-unit revenues and targeted case management (TCM) totals—staff reported total TCM-related claims approaching $3,800,000 with a year‑over‑year increase of roughly $300,000 and an average claims payment rate of about 99%. The department reported a child support collection cost-effectiveness figure of $4.17 collected for every dollar expended (state average cited as $2.65) and reported roughly $7.2 million in collections impacting more than 2,500 children.

Board members discussed fiscal pressures from state mandate changes and asked staff to continue state-level advocacy to limit cost shifts to counties. After discussion, the board moved, seconded and approved the Human Services action items.