With the launch of the new site,MinnesotaHelp.info users will be able to use the Home and Community Services Finders for Assisted Living, Supported Employment Services and Independent Living Skills. 

Users will be able to use the finders when they search for any of these three services.

Users will also be able to view quality information for providers of these three services.  You can view this information by looking at the “Quality” tab on the provider’s service details page. You can also click on the “Quality Information” link on the home page, and search for the service or provider you’re looking for. The quality information includes the following: 

• Consumer satisfaction survey information 
• Responses to Consumer Satisfaction Survey feedback
• Performance Incentive Pay information (whether a provider is participating in the Quality improvement program for HCBS providers)
• Industry awards and certifications
• Substantiated licensing complaints (MDH Licenses) 
• Home care survey information (if applicable)

Please note that much of information for both of these two new features requires providers to input information through provider portal. Not all information on either the quality screens or finders will be available immediately.

What has changed?

The entire site has been revamped, and been given a new look and feel. The redesign has focused on the following:

• Making the website less text-heavy.  Much of the descriptive text has been truncated or made into mouse-over text. You can still get the information you need, but it is presented in a crisp, clean format.
• Using a new method of searching: The new MinnesotaHelp.info uses an open-source program called Solr to search in a more intuitive way. It allows you to search by a word or phrase and will return results based on relevance, similar to popular search engines. There is a separate search feature if you wish to look for a particular agency.
• Narrowing by distance: Many stakeholders have asked for the ability to narrow or expand the search radius, and this has been added into the results page.
• Responsive design for desktop or mobile devices: The view in your browser will format appropriately to the device you’re using, ensuring it is easy to use whether you are on a laptop or using your smartphone.
• User-controlled accounts: Consumers and Providers will manage their passwords in MinnesotaHelp.info and provider portal, and will be able to reset a forgotten password. Users will be able to save resources in My Minnesotahelp.info, Long Term Care Choices Navigator and the Youth Resource Navigator using one username and password.
• Triaged chat to specialists: Chats will route the appropriate person depending on whether you are a consumer or provider, and what you need assistance with.

What has stayed the same?

Although the entire site has been redesigned, some functionality has been carried over from the old website, including: 

• AIRS Taxonomy searching: It has a new, cleaner interface. However, you will still be able to search for particular taxonomy codes, and to search for agencies linked to a particular taxonomy code.
• Special Topics Tables: These have been brought over from the new site, but are now in a layout which is easier to navigate 
• Long Term Care Link: It is now called “Waiver and Alternative Programs”, but retains all the functionality from the old site
• Long Term Care and Youth Resource Navigators: The navigators are also unchanged, and available through the Senior and Youth special topics, respectively.

What do I need to do?

If you are a provider, you will need to go in and create a new user name and password. 
All of your information is still in MinnesotaHelp.info: This new logon account will be connected to your current agency record. 

There are about 105 providers that maintain multiple records who, in the short term, will work directly with the Minnesotahelp.info Data Management Group to update their data.  This is a short term issue that will be fixed shortly and only affect a few agencies.  The DMP is found using live chat in the Provider Portal from the Home Page and can assist with any updates.

If you are an Assisted Living, Supported Employment or Independent Living Skills provider, you will need to update the features attached to your service. There are many new features specific to each of these three services based on stakeholder feedback. Features have been removed as well. Once you select which features apply to your agency and service, consumers will be able to see your agency in the Finder results page!

If you are an Assisted Living, Supported Employment or Independent Living Skills provider, you will need to enter quality information. 
You will need to indicate whether or not you are participating in the Quality Improvement Program; enter consumer satisfaction survey information (and how you respond to it). If you are an Assisted Living Provider; the site links to Home Care Survey and Substantiated Complaint data on the Minnesota Department of Health’s website. Please double check to make sure you your assisted living sites connect to the correct Home Care agency by going to the “Quality” tab on the service details page on the public site. 

Let us know about your experience on the new MinnesotaHelp.info

The goal is for consumers and providers to have a positive experience on the new MinnesotaHelp.info. If something is not working right on the website, something is missing or you think something could be working better, please let the project know. You can do this using the “Contact us” link on the webpage, or please send an email to Marc Hedman, HCBS Report Card Project Lead at Marc.hedman@state.mn.us