Rep. Hicks’ bill would cap waiver budget cuts at 10% during Waiver Reimagine rollout
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Summary
House File 3800 would limit reductions to individual waiver budgets to 10% unless needs change, and require a cost-of-living adjustment in the Phase 2 methodology; the committee laid the bill over after extensive testimony from waiver recipients and families.
Representative Hicks introduced House File 3800 as a mitigation measure for Minnesotans enrolled in waiver services while the state implements 'waiver reimagine' phase 2. Hicks said the bill would prevent blanket reductions tied to administrative changes by limiting budget decreases to 10% absent a documented decrease in assessed need.
Jillian Nelson, policy director for the Autism Society of Minnesota and a waiver recipient, told the committee the measure is "a contract to rebuild trust" with DHS and warned that cuts beyond 10% could push recipients into institutional settings. "Anything more than that would shatter the foundations we have built our lives on," Nelson said.
Multiple family members and recipients testified with concrete examples. Lisa Valla, a parent advocate testifying remotely, said her daughter’s current budget is $100,000 per year and that under waiver reimagine it was estimated to fall to $50,000, which Valla said would force a move into a residential facility that could cost more than $200,000 per year. "If you pass this common-sense bill, House File 3800, her budget cut would be kept at 10%," Valla said.
Addison Carpenter, a waiver recipient and parent, described how cuts would jeopardize nursing supports, assistive technology and family stability; Michelle Anderson and Jean Bender described similar risks, saying reductions would shift costs to hospitals and residential care and disproportionately harm families and people with complex medical needs.
Rep. Hicks said HF3800 would not halt waiver reimagine but would provide a narrow, individualized exception and require procedural guardrails, including a cost-of-living adjustment in the new methodology. After testimony and questions, the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion so sponsors can refine language and respond to implementation concerns.
Next steps: HF3800 is laid over for possible inclusion; sponsors said they will work on technical language and exceptions for high-need cases.