To: Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Minnesota State Legislators, and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) Administering Medical Assistance (MA)
Petition to Reform Minnesota's Restricted Recipient Program (MRRP) for Domestic Violence Survivors
Minnesota’s Department of Human Services (DHS), state legislators, and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) must immediately reform the Restricted Recipient Program (MRRP) to better protect survivors of domestic violence. This includes: implementing mandatory trauma-informed DV screening before any restriction, exempting survivors from MRRP limitations, providing survivor-centered case reviews by trauma specialists, allowing ongoing flexibility to change providers for safety reasons, mandating DV and trauma training for staff, and establishing clear appeal processes. Survivors must not be punished for seeking care — the system must prioritize their safety, mobility, and access to critical healthcare.
Why is this important?
Under Minnesota’s current Restricted Recipient Program (MRRP) policies, survivors of domestic violence are being trapped at the exact moment they seek help. Survivors often need to visit multiple providers, emergency rooms, or pharmacies as they flee abuse, relocate, or address complex trauma-related needs. However, these necessary actions are wrongly flagged as “misuse” of medical services, leading to survivors being placed into MRRP. Once enrolled, they are locked into a single doctor, pharmacy, and hospital — even if they must move for their safety. This creates dangerous barriers to accessing care, leaves survivors vulnerable to further harm, and blocks their ability to rebuild safe and independent lives.
Survivors deserve a healthcare system that recognizes their unique challenges and protects, rather than punishes, their right to seek safety and healing. Without urgent reform, the system meant to help is instead reinforcing the cycles of control and isolation that survivors fight so hard to escape.