Updated January 2021:

Dear MN Music Therapy Community,

We are happy to share that along with the Waiver ReImagine changes, The Department of Human Services (DHS) has included Music Therapy (Independent Living Skills Therapies) as a service option for the CADI, CAC, DD and BI Waivers. This is an incredibly positive step towards greater access and equity for Minnesotans!

What happens now?
1) The Waiver ReImagine changes will unfold throughout the year with each individual’s annual waiver renewal. Clients must wait until their Support Plan is renewed, and then case management can recommend adding Music Therapy Services (ILS Therapies) to the new plan.
2) Music Therapists may never ask clients to add ILS Therapies to their support plans. This is an action that must come from case management.
3) Friendly reminder to NOT contact DHS directly with questions. Always direct your questions about waivers to your MTAM Reimbursement Liaisons through this email address: ReimbursementLiaisonMTAM@Gmail.com.

The MTAM Reimbursement Liaisons are actively working with DHS to learn more about these exciting updates and understand requirements for documentation and billing. We will continue to communicate this information with our MN Music Therapy Community as we learn more about the Waiver ReImagine changes.

Thank you,

MTAM Reimbursement Committee
Lindsay Markworth, MMT, MT-BC
Mark Burnett, MA, MT-BC
Ericha Rupp, MA, MT-BC
Hilary Fredenburg, MA, MT-BC
Sammi Pavett, MT-BC

The MTAM reimbursement committee serves to support our community of music therapists through the process of understanding and navigating various aspects of reimbursement, waivers, and policy related to our ability to provide music therapy services during COVID-19 Restrictions. A subgroup of music therapists serves as Reimbursement Liaisons, serving to provide direct communication between MN Music Therapists and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). We work to advocate for increased access to music therapy services, and to help answer questions from our community regarding music therapy reimbursement and policy.

All questions regarding DHS, MDH, or CMS should be directed to the MTAM Reimbursement Liaisons. Individual music therapists should never directly contact these agencies. 

We can help you with questions about:

  • MN’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers
    • Brain Injury (BI)
    • Developmental Disability (DD) 
    • Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) 
    • Community Alternative Care (CAC
  • Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS) Waiver Service Option
  • Consumer Support Grant (CSG)
  • Family Support Grant (FSG)
  • Waiver ReImagine 
  • Navigating Executive Orders related to COVID-19 

All music therapists working in private practice, long term care, educational settings, hospice, medical settings, center-based music therapy organizations, and those who receive funding through CMS, grants, waivers, or foundation-based funding must complete the free MN DHS Waiver 101 training due to significant upcoming changes that impact all of this work. This training will educate you on how to maintain professional and state standards of practice in accordance with MN DHS, MDH and CMS policies.

Reimbursement Committee Contact Information:

Reimbursement Liaisons (or DHS, MDH, CMS Liaisons)

Mark Burnett, MA, MT-BC

Lindsay Markworth, MMT, MT-BC

Ericha Rupp, MA, MT-BC

ReimbursementLiaisonMTAM@gmail.com

 

MTAM Reimbursement Committee 

Mark Burnett, MA, MT-BC (Co-chair)

Lindsay Markworth, MMT, MT-BC (Co-chair)

Ericha Rupp, MA, MT-BC

Hilary Fredenburg, MA, MT-BC

Sammi Pavett, MT-BC