Important Information for People Receiving HCBS Services

If you get Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), a new Minnesota law helps protect you from fraud and unfair treatment.

What's changed?
Starting August 1, 2025, under the new state law, service providers cannot give you money, gifts, or rewards to make you choose their services. This is called a kickback. Kickbacks are now illegal in Minnesota.

What is a kickback?
A kickback is when a provider or agency offers you (or someone else) money, gifts or favors to encourage you to use their services or to encourage someone to send you to them. This is fraud. It is against the law.

What to watch out for
Be careful if a provider offers things like:

• Cash or gift cards just for choosing them

• Paying part of your rent if you agree to use their services

• Lower rent if you get more service hours

• Letting friends or family live with you in exchange for choosing a provider or agreeing to services you don't need

These offers may be against the law. They can cause big trouble for the provider, and sometimes for you too.

What you can do
If you think someone is giving kickbacks, you can report safely and in private:

Call: 1-800-657-3750
Email: OIG.investigations.DHS@state.mn.us
Online: Program Integrity Oversight hotline form

You do not need to give your name. The state will keep your identity private. If you report honestly, you will not get in trouble.

If a provider breaks the law
They could lose their license, not be allowed to give Medicaid services anymore, or pay fines or face criminal charges.