2022 Annual Report

To recognize the occasion, Accra talked with employees, clients, caregivers and responsible parties about the impact that Accra has made on the people and communities it has served. Thank you to all the clients who have trusted Accra with their homecare services and the employees who have made these services possible for three decades!

CFSS is a new self-directed homecare option being developed by the State of Minnesota to replace the current PCA Choice program and the state-funded Consumer Support Grant (CSG) benefit, which is expected to launch in 2024. CFSS will offer those who need home services more choice, control and flexibility with their services and supports required to live and work in their community.

Accra was approved as a Community First Services & Supports (CFSS) consultation services provider by the State of Minnesota. We have developed a business plan around the transition to CFSS and will communicate with our current and prospective clients about the changes as they are announced by DHS.

When DHS announced in May 2022 that Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) would be required in Minnesota for FMS providers, Accra needed to add a reliable system.

In June 2023, Accra started rolling out its own mobile electronic time capture platform known as Accra Mobile. Data from the mobile application flows seamlessly into the Accra Access portal. Responsible parties can approve or reject time shifts created by caregivers, view weekly summaries of time and see the status of the time shift data as it moves through processing and payment.

This new online client portal provides responsible parties with real-time visibility of budget balances and usage details for each client and their associated services. It also allows each program to publish announcements and general resources that are accessible to responsible parties in a self-service capacity.

Users have access to key published report data, such as monthly statements like utilization letters and spending summaries. Accra team members can also send notifications to alert responsible parties of client specific requirements or concerns.

As of September 2023, 5,100 clients across various programs have adopted the system. More adoptions are expected as new functionalities in development are added, such as a new job board feature.

Accra now provides in-person therapy at our Minneapolis, Duluth, Hibbing and Virginia clinics, and we offer virtual therapy via telehealth to clients throughout Minnesota.

Accra also provides adult rehabilitative mental health services (ARMHS) throughout the seven-county Twin Cities metro area and St. Louis County. ARMHS help clients manage the symptoms of mental illness, develop independent living skills and lead a more fulfilling life at home.

During the 2023 Minnesota Legislative session, Accra joined with several community partners, including the Minnesota Home Care Association, The Arc MN, and SEIU to advocate for an increase in the base hourly wage for PCAs and for an increase in the corresponding reimbursement rate for providers.

The new two-year CBA increases base wages for PCAs in the PCA Choice program to $19/hour effective Jan. 1, 2024, and $20/hour effective Jan. 1, 2025. Concurrently, the corresponding reimbursement rate paid to all providers increases by 21.3% effective Jan. 1, 2024, and an additional 4.3% effective Jan. 1, 2025.  While Accra applauds the increase in the base wage rate for PCAs, we also recognize that the reimbursement rate is not keeping pace with the increases in base wages required of Choice providers.

Accra successfully engaged in the 2023 Minnesota legislative session by:

• Participating in several one-on-one private meetings with committee leadership and staff in both the House and the Senate, 
• Providing key testimony in several legislative hearings, 
• Engaging in discussions with key staff in the Governor’s office, 
• Maintaining regular communications with DHS staff, 
• Collaborating with several valued community partners including SEIU, and 
• Facilitating action by Accra clients resulting in over 200 contacts with more than 65 Legislators. 

All of this action results in Accra creating a new level of visibility and respect within the Legislature and the Governor’s office, and it allows Accra to initiate and nurture valued relationships that will continue to reap rewards into the future. 

In 2022 and 2023, the impact of DEI at Accra broadened and accelerated, with survey data finding that 96% of employees feel that Accra is committed to DEI. Accra’s 2023 DEI theme is Develop, Engage, Integrate. To achieve this, four employee panels were held, which highlighted the diverse lived experiences of Accra staff, in addition to regular bulletins, support groups and book club meetings. To foster continuous education, Accra created quarterly DEI learning courses that help employees build DEI awareness and gain the knowledge and skills to embrace differences, challenge biases and foster an inclusive workplace. Accra’s goal is to cultivate a workplace where diversity thrives and an environment in which empathy, respect and openness are ingrained in everything that it does.

In his new role, Jones focuses on developing and executing technology strategy, including leveraging technology to improve Accra’s services, enhance efficiency and increase the organization’s return on mission. For three years, he has overseen significant growth within Accra’s IT team and the formation of a development team, which created the Accra Access portal and Accra Mobile application. With over three decades of IT experience, Jones will continue to drive innovation and digital transformation at Accra, as well as bolster security and maintain compliance with government regulations.

The Executive Leadership team will continue to provide counsel, guidance, and direction to the Senior Leadership Team as Accra advances its vision of building the ecosystem that delivers personalized care in the home to better meet the needs of those served by the current health care system.