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Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO), Explained

MSHO is Minnesota's voluntary integrated plan for people who have both Medicare and Medical Assistance, combining both under one care coordinator.

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Short answer

Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) is Minnesota's voluntary integrated managed-care program for adults 65 and older who have both Medical Assistance and Medicare Parts A and B. It combines both programs' benefits under one health plan with a single care coordinator, rather than a resident juggling separate Medicare and Medicaid systems.

What MSHO coordinates

A single MSHO plan brings together medical care, behavioral health, and long-term services and supports (including, for eligible members, home and community-based waiver services) under one point of contact. The goal is fewer gaps between what Medicare covers and what Medical Assistance covers.

Availability varies

Which MSHO health plans are offered can vary by county and by year. Confirm current plan offerings for your specific county directly with the Senior LinkAge Line (1-800-333-2433) or DHS before advising a specific family, rather than assuming last year's options still apply.

Questions families ask

How do I report abuse or neglect at a Twin Cities facility?

Call the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) at 1-844-880-1574, a statewide line staffed 24/7, to report suspected physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult anywhere in Minnesota, including all seven metro counties. MAARC routes the report to the correct county or Tribal agency for investigation. Call 911 first if someone is in immediate danger.

Is MAARC the same everywhere in Minnesota, or does each Twin Cities county have its own abuse hotline?

MAARC is a single statewide intake line — 1-844-880-1574 — used by every county in Minnesota, including Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, and Washington. There is no separate county-specific abuse hotline; MAARC itself routes each report to the appropriate county or Tribal social services agency for investigation after intake.

What counts as financial exploitation of a senior in Minnesota, and where do I report it?

Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult — including undue influence over finances, theft, or misuse of a power of attorney — should be reported to MAARC at 1-844-880-1574, the same statewide line used for other forms of suspected abuse or neglect. If a specific licensed facility is involved and the concern also touches on regulatory compliance, MDH's Office of Health Facility Complaints (651-201-4200) can be contacted separately.

Am I a mandated reporter if I suspect a neighbor or relative in senior care is being neglected?

Minnesota law designates certain professionals — including facility staff, health care providers, social workers, and others working with vulnerable adults — as mandated reporters required to report suspected maltreatment to MAARC (1-844-880-1574). Family members and concerned neighbors are not legally mandated but are strongly encouraged to report suspected abuse or neglect through the same statewide line.

What happens after I call MAARC to report suspected abuse?

MAARC serves as the statewide intake point; after taking the report, it routes the case to the appropriate county or Tribal social services agency (or to MDH or another licensing board, if the concern involves a licensed provider's compliance) for investigation. MAARC itself does not conduct the on-the-ground investigation — that happens at the county level.

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