Benefits

The Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver is a home and community-based service necessary as an alternative to institutionalization that promote the optimal health, independence, safety and integration of a person who is chronically ill or medically fragile and who would otherwise require the level of care provided in a hospital.

Services Provided

Services available through the CAC Waiver include:

• 24-Hour Emergency Assistance
• Adult day care/adult day care bath
• Behavioral support
• Caregiver living expenses
• Case management aide
• Case management/service coordination
• Chore
• Consumer directed community supports (CDCS)
• Environmental accessibility adaptations
• Extended home care services
• Family training and counseling
• Foster care
• Home delivered meals
• Homemaker
• Housing access coordination
• Independent living skills (ILS) training
• Respite care
• Specialized supplies and equipment
• Supported employment
• Transitional services
• Transportation

General Eligibility

To be eligible for the CAC Waiver, a person must choose the CAC Waiver and meet all of the following criteria:

• Certified by the primary physician to meet the level of care provided in a hospital
• Certified disabled by Social Security or through the State Medical Review Team (SMRT) process
• Determined by the case manager/service coordinator to meet the hospital level of care criteria
• Eligible for Medical Assistance (MA)
• Has an assessed need for supports and services over and above those available through the MA State Plan
• Under the age of 65 years at the time of opening to the waiver

Hospital Level of Care Criteria

A person must meet all four of the following:

• Be expected to require frequent or continuous care in a hospital without the provision of CAC waiver services.
• Have both predictable health needs and the potential for changes in condition that could lead to rapid deterioration or life-threatening episodes.
• Need skilled assessment and intervention multiple times during a 24-hour period to maintain health and prevent deterioration of health status.
• Require a 24-hour plan of care, including a back-up plan, to reasonably assure health and safety in the community.

Enroll

You may enroll in the program by:

• Completing the Adult Intake Form
• Contacting your county's social services or public health department intake at 218-327-2941
• Contacting your health plan provider if you are already on Medical Assistance
• Logging onto the MinnesotaHelp website
  • MinnesotaHelp is online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota identify resources such as human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of aid and assistance within Minnesota. It is especially rich in resource information for seniors and their caregivers, people with disabilities and their caregivers, parents and families and low-income people. This information is available in other forms to people with disabilities by contacting us at 651-431-2600. TTY users can call through Minnesota Relay at 800-627-3529. For Speech to Speech Relay, call 877-627-3848. For additional assistance with legal rights and protections for equal access to human services programs, contact our agency's ADA coordinator.