Service Termination

Rev. 6/22

      • I. PURPOSE
        The purpose of this policy is to establish determination guidelines and notification procedures for service termination.
      • POLICY It is the intent of Heartland Homes to ensure continuity of care and service coordination between members of the support team including, but not limited to the person served, the legal representative and/or designated emergency contact, case manager, other licensed caregivers, and other people identified by the person and/or legal representative during situations that may require or result in service termination. Heartland Homes restricts service termination to specific situations according to MN Statutes, section 245D.10, subdivision 3a.
      • PROCEDURE Heartland Homes recognizes that temporary service suspension and service termination are two separate procedures. Heartland Homes must limit temporary service suspension to specific situations that are listed in the Policy and Procedure on Temporary Service Suspension.  A temporary service suspension may lead to or include service termination or Heartland Homes may do a temporary service suspension by itself.  Heartland Homes must limit service termination to specific situations that are listed below.  A service termination may include a temporary service suspension or Heartland Homes can do a service termination by itself.
        • A. Heartland Homes must permit each person served to remain in the program or continue receiving services and must not terminate services unless:
          • 1. The termination is necessary for the person’s welfare and the license holder cannot meet the person’s needs;
          • 2. The safety of the person, others in the program, or staff is endangered and positive support strategies were attempted and have not achieved and effectively maintained safety for the person or others;
          • 3. The health of the person, others in the program, or staff would otherwise be endangered;
          • 4. The license holder has not been paid for services;
          • 5. The license holder ceases to operate; or
          • 6. The person has been terminated by the lead agency from waiver eligibility.
        • B. Prior to giving notice of service termination, Heartland Homes must document actions taken to minimize or eliminate the need for termination. Action taken by Heartland Homes must include, at a minimum:
          • 1. Consultation with the person’s expanded/support team to identify and resolve issues leading to issuance of the termination notice; and
          • 2. A request to the case manager for intervention services as identified in section 245D.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (1), or other professional consultation or intervention services to support the person in the program. This requirement does not apply to notices of service termination issued due to the program not being paid for services.
          • 3. If, based on the best interests of the person, the circumstances at the time of the termination notice were such that Heartland Homes was unable to take the action specified above, Heartland Homes must document the specific circumstances and the reason for being unable to do so.
        • C. The notice of service termination must meet the following requirements:
        • 1. Heartland Homes must notify the person or the person’s legal representative and the case manager in writing of the intended services termination. If the service termination is from residential supports and services, as defined in section 245D.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (3), Heartland Homes must also notify MN Department of Human Service’s Commissioner in writing; and
        • 2. The notice must include:
          • a. The reason for the action;
          • b. Except for a service termination when the program ceases to operate, a summary of actions taken to minimize or eliminate the need for service termination or temporary service suspension as required under section 245D.10, subdivision 3a, paragraph (c), and why these measures failed to prevent the termination or suspension;
          • c. The person’s right to appeal the termination of services under MN Statutes, section 256.045, subdivision 3, paragraph (a); and
          • d. The person’s right to seek a temporary order staying the termination of services according to the procedures in MN Statutes, section 256.045, subdivision 4a or 6, paragraph (c).
        • D. Notice of the proposed termination of service, including those situations that began with a temporary service suspension, must be given:
          • 1. At least 60 days prior to termination when Heartland Homes is providing intensive supports and services identified in section 245D.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
          • 2. At least 30 days prior to termination for all other services licensed under Chapter 245D.
          • 3. This termination notice may be given in conjunction with a notice of temporary services suspension.
        • E. During the service termination notice period, Heartland Homes must:
          • 1. Work with the expanded/support team to develop reasonable alternative to protect the person and others and to support continuity of care;
          • 2. Provide information requested by the person or case manager; and
          • 3. Maintain information about the service termination, including the written notice of intended service termination, in the service recipient record.

D-RISS-18 Rev 6/22