Dear Board Members and Advocacy Committee leaders,
UCARE
We just learned about another critical advocacy issue that I will be spending time on (thanks to Olga): the UCare claims from the last 1.5 months of 2025 are caught up in the receivership process and are delayed. There are two UCare issues we are monitoring:

  1.  Members have had questions regarding whether they need to discharge and readmit the UCare clients. We received information from DHS on what the process will be, however, the UCare call line hasn't been aligned with this.
  2.  The issue we just became aware of is that providers haven't received payments from November 15th claims and that a delay is anticipated.

I just talked with my contact at UCare. He's been their lobbyist and is assigned to a special project, working through the transition. So, the great news is that we have a resource through this transition. What I have learned thus far:

  *   The process will vary by program type (e.g. MNSHO, MSC+). He is going to run our draft language by the appropriate parties to ensure we have clarity for our members.
  *   The payments from Q4 2025 will be delayed but he doesn't believe it will be for 18 months He hopes to have more clarity around this delay within the next few days and will share it. While we may not have answers, we will let our members know that we have a UCare resource. He is willing to triage member questions for us.
  *   I will also be communicating the challenge of the UCare and Prepayment delays doubling up the impact on providers with MDH and DHS leaders.

PREPAYMENT REVIEWS
In addition to sending the letter to state leaders, we plan to send a press release. My hope is to include a few providers that have clients who would be willing to talk with the media about the disruption caused from the roll-out of this process. If you are willing to add your name to that list, please let me know ASAP.

Today's news regarding Gov Walz no longer running for reelection may or may not change the state's response to our pleas.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

On that note.....Happy New Year!! I sure didn't wish for 2026 to start with such a bang!!

Kind Regards,

Kathy Messerli
Executive Director
Minnesota Home Care Association

2909 S. Wayzata Blvd. | Minneapolis, MN 55405
Direct: 651.635.0038 | Main: 651.635.0607
www.mnhomecare.org<http://www.mnhomecare.org/page/A17> | kmesserli@mnhomecare.org<mailto:kmesserli@mnhomecare.org>
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