Accessibility Home Modification

 EAA Assessments evaluate homes for safety and accessibility, recommend modifications and assistive devices. 

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According to MN DHS  Provider standards and qualifications 

Conflict of interest 

An assessment provider who completes an evaluation of the person’s home cannot bid on the same project unless there are no other installation providers within the person’s region. 

The lead agency must document in the person’s support plan that there are no other installation providers within the person’s region. 

ConnectAbility of MN team members are certified by MN Department of Labor as Accessibility Specialists and can perform Environmental Assessments for MN DHS under Procedure Code T1028. 

Our organization is also a licensed Residential Contractors by MN Department of Labor, which allows us bill for Home Modifications for MN DHS under the Procedure Code S5165. 

We do not actually perform any construction work for the Home Modifications.  As a nonprofit organization, we act as Project Managers and a billing agency.  This allows ConnectAbility of MN to work directly with the county as a Project Manager and secure bids from licenses subcontractors that will be performing the construction work.  Because we hold the license with MN DLI ,we are able to comply with all MN contractor laws and work with licensed subcontractors that do not have a MN DHS NPI number. 

In the capacity of Project Mangers we are able to secure 2 competitive bids from subcontractors that are not associated with ConnectAbility of MN for counties to consider for the Home Modification. 

In many areas around the state, there are not contractors that have NPI numbers and cannot work directly with the counties.  In addition, we are able to work with a group of subcontractors that understand the needs of the population we serve and can work within the limits of MN DHS policies.  ConnectAbility of MN is able to actively advocate for the client and will not accept bids from subcontractors that are out of line with the intent of the Home Modification Policy. 

• Roll-in Shower
• Bathroom reconfiguration for accessibility
• Exterior ramp
• Lifts
• Ceiling track system
• Flooring
• Widening doors
• Room reconfigurations for mobility
• Lowering counters
• Door replacements
• Stair lifts
• Roll-under sinks/vanity

We do not do pass-through billing for in-process or completed projects for the following reasons:

• We did not vet the subcontractor- background check, HIPAA compliance, on-boarding for tax records at the end of the year, licensing  verification was not performed, OAG verification was not performed
• Our  MNDLI contractor license is required for billing, which means that state laws regarding home modifications, warranties, and compliance with state code fall on our license, not the person who performed the work.
• We do not have signed consent from the county and client to perform the work
• If the client or county does not sign off on the completion of the project that the other subcontractor performed, we are not able to bill for the balance of the invoice
• If we did not work directly with the subcontractor on the bid process, we do not know if they had inflated rates, used out-of-standard products, or performed quality work for the client.  We advocate for the most value for each client’s waiver and do not allow inflated rates from subcontractors
• We do not know if the subcontractor used other subcontractors and if they have been paid in full before final payment is made

• Drop down information: Many factors can contribute to the schedule of a project including county and state approvals, contractor availability, availability of supplies, city permits and processes, product availability and more. We must follow the processes predetermined by the DHS, the county, and ConnectAbility of MN’s policies and procedures.  We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding that everyone is doing their best to complete the project.   

• The required modifications are determined by the Case Manager and shared with the Project Coordinator. 

• Our Project Coordinator will schedule a visit to the home with a subcontractor to obtain information to produce a bid.  We try to schedule two subcontractors, depending on availability. 

• Bids will be presented to the Case Manager. The Project Coordinator will work with the Case Manager if revisions are required. 

• When a bid is accepted, the Case Manager will enter a Service Agreement for the project. When we receive the Service Agreement we will bill DHS and collect the funds for the subcontractor. We will pay the subcontractor 50% up front to order supplies and add the project to their schedule.  

• Our Project Coordinator will update the Case Manager and the client when the project start date is scheduled and throughout the project. 

• When the project is complete, we will schedule the final walk-through with the Case Manager and the client. When all parties are satisfied with the project our Project Coordinator will process the final payment to the subcontractor.  

We are happy to onboard subcontractors to work with us on projects. They do need to be licensed and insured and pass a background check to work as a subcontractor for ConnectAbility of MN. They will also need to provide an estimate for the project to be approved.  

Accessibility Home Modifications are bid with industry-standard construction-grade supplies. However, if the client’s home has upgraded trims or finishes, the homeowner can choose to have the upgraded materials installed in their home and pay the price difference out of pocket.  

•  EAA Assessments evaluate homes for safety and accessibility, recommend modifications and assistive devices.