Benton County Hiring Staff to Accommodate State Health Care Changes

FOLEY -- The recently passed Affordable Care Act means Benton County is hiring three additional people in its Human Services Department.

The Affordable Care Act will mean more people will be eligible for health care coverage and Human Services Director Bob Cornelius says they'll need the additional help to handle the increased caseload.

Four more staffers will likely be added to handle the additional case assessments through the state's new MnCHOICES program. MnCHOICES is for those who have a disability or other long-term care needs. The new MnCHOICES assessment will replace current long-term care assessment processes and forms and will be carried out by counties.

Cornelius says the increased reimbursement rate and the additional new cases should mean no additional cost to the county for the new staff.