DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Add 11 Full-Time Equivalent Financial Assistant Specialist II Positions In Employment and Economic Assistance Department
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the creation of 11 new full-time equivalent (FTE) Financial Assistant Specialist II positions in 2026 in the Employment and Economic Assistance (E&EA) Department to address Medical Assistance backlogs and requirements of House Resolution 1 (HR1).
SUMMARY
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the federal government provided for continuous Medical Assistance (MA) coverage without annual recertification. In spring 2023, that continuous coverage was ended and counties resumed annual recertifications. Since that time, Dakota County, like most counties, has had a backlog of applications and renewals needing to be processed. The MA backlog for new applications is currently about 450 applications for elderly and disabled, 120 for other new applications, and 3,400 applications for recertifications processed through METS, the Minnesota Electronic Technology System. This is a decrease from nearly 6,000 backlogged METS recertifications a year ago.
Improvements to application timeliness have been made through improved OnBase workflows, reorganizing teams for greater efficiency, use of data dashboards, staff overtime, and temporary financial workers from other counties.
While the department has made great progress in decreasing backlogs, the passage of HR1 in July 2025 adds new requirements for E&EA. Most notably is the requirement of recertifications two times a year, rather than once, decreasing retroactive eligibility from 90 days to either 30 or 60 days depending on the case type, and adding work requirements for many MA participants. Taken alone, the twice annual recertification would double the work of financial workers.
To prepare for HR1 the department wants to ensure it is well-placed to have the curren...
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