You have received good news: your Minnesota waiver is approved. Now comes a different set of questions. Who do you call? Do services start automatically? How do you find staff who can meet your needs? This guide walks through the practical conversations that help turn an approval into a clear plan for support.
Know your waiver: CADI, DD, BI, and CAC explained
These abbreviations name different waiver programs, not individual services. The brief descriptions below are a starting point; each program has additional eligibility rules that your lead agency must review.
- CADI — Community Access for Disability Inclusion
- For eligible people with disabilities who need a nursing-facility level of care and receive support in the community.
- DD — Developmental Disabilities
- For eligible people with developmental disabilities or related conditions who need the level of care provided by an intermediate care facility for people with developmental disabilities.
- BI — Brain Injury
- For eligible people with brain injuries who need a qualifying specialized nursing-facility or neurobehavioral-hospital level of care.
- CAC — Community Alternative Care
- For eligible people who are chronically ill or medically fragile and need a hospital level of care.
- EW — Elderly Waiver
- A separate waiver for eligible older adults who need a nursing-facility level of care. Its service and eligibility rules differ from the disability waivers.
Common waiver terms you will hear after approval
Keep this glossary nearby when reviewing your paperwork. If a term on your notice is unclear, ask your case manager to explain what it means for your own services.
- HCBS — Home and Community-Based Services
- Support delivered in home and community settings. A waiver is a funding pathway for eligible services; HCBS is the broader term for the supports.
- MA — Medical Assistance
- Minnesota’s Medicaid program. Waiver services and standard MA benefits are related, but they are not identical service packages.
- MnCHOICES
- Minnesota’s assessment and support-planning system for long-term services and supports. An assessment helps identify needs and inform planning; it is not a provider’s confirmed start date.
- Lead agency
- The county, tribal nation, or managed care organization responsible for administering the applicable program.
- Case manager or care coordinator
- Your contact for navigating planning, referrals, coordination, and service questions. Confirm who is assigned to you and how to reach them.
- Person-centered support plan
- The plan connecting your needs, goals, preferences, and chosen supports. Ask for a copy and help understanding any unfamiliar wording.
- Service authorization
- Approval for specific services under your plan. It is separate from general waiver eligibility.
- Authorized units or hours
- The approved amount of a service. Ask how units translate into your schedule; do not assume one unit always means one hour.
- Provider
- The qualified agency or professional delivering a service. Ask whether they offer your exact service and have staff available for your location and schedule.
- Referral
- A request for a provider to review whether they can meet your needs. Sending a referral does not itself confirm acceptance or a start date.
- IHS — Individualized Home Supports
- A service name, not a waiver name. IHS has different support and training options; confirm the exact option being requested or authorized.
1. Confirm exactly what has been approved
Start with your assigned case manager or lead-agency contact. Ask them to explain your notice and confirm your waiver program, current enrollment status, and any remaining steps. If you do not know who your case manager is, contact the county, tribal nation, or organization that handled your assessment.
DHS requires waiver services to be authorized by the lead agency and included in the support plan before they are delivered. Approval for a waiver does not mean every service you might want has already been authorized.
- Which services are approved, and which are still being considered?
- What amount or frequency of support is authorized, and for what dates?
- Does anything remain to be completed before a provider can begin?
- Who is my main contact, and how should I follow up?
2. Review the support plan in everyday language
DHS explains that people who qualify and choose publicly funded services work with their lead agency on a person-centered support plan. Ask for a copy and make sure you understand what the selected services are supposed to help you do.
Rather than stopping at a service name such as IHS, describe a typical week. When is help most useful? What tasks or situations are difficult? What do you want to keep doing yourself? If the written plan does not reflect your priorities, raise that with your case manager before arranging a schedule.
For example, “I want help planning meals and keeping track of my weekly routine” gives a team a clearer starting point than “I need home support.” This is an illustration for discussion, not a determination that a particular activity is covered.
3. Compare providers for the service you actually need
Ask your case manager about provider options, then speak with agencies about fit and current capacity. A provider may offer the right service but lack staff for your location or preferred hours. A referral review is not the same as a confirmed opening.
Use the same questions with each provider so you can compare the answers. Discuss the person’s preferences directly, including communication, language, cultural considerations, and comfort with different routines.
- Do you provide my exact authorized service in my area?
- Can you meet my preferred schedule, and what capacity do you have now?
- How do you match staff with a person’s needs and preferences?
- What happens if the usual staff member cannot attend?
- How do I raise a concern or ask for a different approach?
4. Prepare the referral with your case manager
Before sending a referral, ask who will coordinate it and what the provider needs to review. Having the basic details ready can reduce repeated calls, but a complete referral still needs a provider decision and the appropriate authorization.
Useful starting information includes the requested service, county or service location, preferred days and times, case-manager contact, and the goals or support needs relevant to that service. Ask how any necessary assessment, plan, or authorization documents should be shared through the provider’s approved process.
Avoid putting sensitive records into a general website chat. Agree on an appropriate way to exchange them. Keep a simple record of which providers received the referral, who is following up, and what remains unanswered.
5. Confirm the start date and first-visit expectations
Once a provider has accepted the referral and the needed arrangements are in place, ask for a clear start date and contact person. Discuss what will happen at the first visit, who will attend, and how you will know which staff member to expect.
You can also prepare a short introduction in your own words: what you enjoy, how you communicate, what a comfortable visit looks like, and what you would like staff to ask before doing. Share relevant health and safety instructions through the agreed intake process.
Clarify the backup plan for a missed visit and how to report a change in needs. Starting services should come with a way to ask questions, not just a date on the calendar.
6. Follow up if services are delayed or the fit is wrong
If you are approved but still waiting, ask which step is holding things up: provider capacity, missing information, service authorization, or scheduling. Request a specific next action and a person responsible for following up. There is no single start-time promise that applies to every referral.
If a provider cannot meet your needs, bring that information back to your case manager and ask about other options. After services start, keep notes about what works, missed visits, and goals that need attention. Ask for a review when your circumstances change rather than assuming the original plan must stay the same.
For a possible Truwell referral, our team can discuss the requested service and current availability. Your case manager remains the contact for changes to waiver authorization.
Common questions
Do services start automatically after my waiver is approved?
No. The specific service must be authorized, and a qualified provider must be able to accept the referral and arrange a start date. Confirm the remaining steps with your case manager.
Can I contact a provider before everything is finalized?
You can ask about services, fit, and capacity while coordinating with your case manager. An inquiry or referral does not replace the authorization needed before waiver-funded services begin.
What if my chosen provider has no staff available?
Ask about the provider’s current capacity and discuss other provider options with your case manager. Do not assume that a referral or authorization guarantees an immediate opening.
Explore related Truwell services
Availability depends on authorization, location, schedule, and staffing. Share your requested service through our referral form, or contact our team to discuss a possible fit.
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Official sources
These sources support the program descriptions above. Planning questions and examples are general suggestions, not determinations of eligibility or coverage. Confirm current requirements with your lead agency.