DHS recommends provisional licensure for EIDBI; Somali and other community groups warn licensing could reduce access

Christy Grom, director of state government relations at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, told the Senate Human Services Committee that DHS recommends provisional licensure for early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) as a way to strengthen oversight and health-and-safety protections while balancing access.

Grom said the department’s multi‑phase evaluation — authorized by the Legislature and initiated after a 2023 governor’s request — found rapid program growth and operational inconsistencies that leave the state without adequate tools to investigate maltreatment or ensure provider qualifications. "DHS recommends that we do license this service," Grom said, and described a provisional licensure structure in the governor’s budget that would be added to chapter 245A and allow DHS to identify controlling individuals, require background studies, and suspend or revoke licenses.

The report recommended interim and long‑term steps: create provisional licensure in 2025, continue community engagement to design final standards through 2027, and aim for full licensure by July 2028 if the Legislature approves it. Grom said DHS would also seek resources to support investigations and revalidation and recommended categorizing EIDBI providers as high risk so revalidation occurs more frequently.

Why it matters

EIDBI is a Medicaid state‑plan service under EPSDT that provides therapies (for example, applied behavior analysis…