PCA CHOICE
PCA Choice is designed to support people of all ages with disabilities to live independently in the community.
Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) provide services to people who need help with activities of daily living and health-related functions. PCA services may be provided through hands-on assistance, supervision, cueing, redirection and intervention for behavior including observation and monitoring.
PCA Choice is a flexible service that means you have a PCA providing the assistance when you need it.
You can use your PCA services anywhere including work, shopping, medical appointments, worship services, school or any place you go in the community. There is no limit on where you can bring your PCA.
Minor Children
Services for children (under 18) are based on the needs of a child with a disability that are over and above what a parent or caregiver would normally provide for a child without a disability. Services can be used in the home, school or anywhere else in the community. Schools are responsible for services needed in school and these hours do not count against the child’s overall authorization for PCA hours.
**A parent cannot be paid as a PCA for his/her minor child.
Eligibility For Personal Care Assistance
There are three basic requirements to be eligible for PCA Assistance through MN State Services
You must be eligible for or receiving Medical Assistance (MA) or Minnesota Care Expanded benefits (for pregnant women or children under age 21) or be eligible for the Alternative Care programs for qualifying seniors.
You must have a doctor’s order stating that you need PCA services because they are medically necessary
You are able to make decisions about your care or have a person or Responsible Party who can make decisions about your care for you.
The Consumer / Responsible Party, Qualified Professional (QP) & Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Working Together
A PCA must be able to provide the services specified in your care plan.
A PCA must:
Be at least 18 years old or be 16 to 17 years old with additional special training.
Be employed by a PCA agency.
Be trained (by you or an agency or school) and competent to help you.
Be able to provide the services you need based on your care plan.
Pass a criminal background check (according to state standards).
They can either live with you or separate from you.
A PCA cannot be a spouse, parent of a minor child, corporate guardian or responsible party for a PCA consumer.
Your Responsible Party must:
Actively participate in the planning and directing of your PCA services. Your Responsible Party cannot be your PCA. Requirements include:
Be at least 18 years old.
Is available to you or your PCA
Monitors care(s) at least once a week.
Attend the assessment
You can be your own Responsible Party if you can direct your own cares.
You or Your Responsible Party needs to find a Qualified Professional (QP). **Independent Lifestyles is able to Provide a QP.
A Qualified Professional can be a Registered Nurse (RN), a Mental Health Professional, or a Licensed Social Worker.
A Qualified Professional is responsible for:
Assisting you in writing your care plan describing your needs and how a PCA will assist you.
Providing information to new PCA’s about your needs for assistance.
Providing training to your PCA’s on your health care needs.
Providing on-going monitoring of your PCA’s to make sure things are going smoothly.
You or your QP need to tell your doctor or public health nurse about changes you may need in your PCA services.
A Responsible Party must actively participate in the planning and directing of your PCA including all hiring and firing and paperwork involved
. They are responsible for keeping the process running smoothly for you.Finding, Hiring, Training and Firing PCA’s
Call ILICIL when you hire new PCA’s to make sure you have the most updated forms and to verify that we have received all paperwork needed.
You or your Responsible Party needs to find PCA’s who are willing to work for you when you need someone and train them on your personal needs.
Training your PCA’s includes instructing them on your care plan and vulnerable adult training.
Your or your Responsible Party needs to do the hiring for all PCA staff working for you. This includes all the paperwork that is involved. ALL of the paperwork needs to be returned BEFORE your PCA will be able to work for you.
You can call ILICIL for new packets if you need them, but make sure ALL of the paperwork is complete before returning the packet. This reduces the chance of paperwork getting misplaced.
You or your Responsible Party needs to do the firing of PCA’s if they are not doing their job the way you want it done. Please make sure you notify ILICIL if you need to terminate a PCA.
You or your Responsible Party must find back up PCA staff. This ensures that you get the service you need if someone is sick or unable to get to your home.
You or your Responsible Party needs to schedule your PCA’s and Qualified Professionals to work for you when you want them to.
You or your Responsible Party needs to get a copy of your doctor’s orders to ILICIL stating that you need the service.
You or your Responsible Party needs to enter into a written agreement with the PCA Choice agency and with all PCA’s hired and QP.
NOTE: You are a joint employer with ILICIL and need to conduct activities as such.
You or a Responsible Party must actively participate in tracking hours worked by your PCA and subtract those hours from your contracted amount. ILICIL keeps a "back-up" copy of hours worked and you can call anytime and check to make sure we both have the same numbers.
Your MA Assessment gives you a certain number of units that you are allowed to use per day. You or your Responsible Party needs to monitor that time so PCA’s don’t go over the hours set in your assessment. The amount of hours is assessed by a Social Worker or PHN.
You can call ILICIL for verification on the number of units you have.
Your units are flexible, but remember, you may have to cut back at a later date.
A PCA cannot work over 48 hours per week.
A PCA must be able to follow your instructions and training so they can be good employees.
PCA Consumer Responsibilities
The PCA program is designed to be flexible and driven by you. However there are certain responsibilities you should keep in mind. PCA services are supposed to provide direct assistance to YOU. Your PCA must be with you providing assistance when you need it. For Example:
PCA’s should not get paid for time they are not with you.
PCA’s cannot be paid when they are traveling to and from your house or if they are "on call" by phone or pager.
Consumers should not sign timecards for time the PCA has not worked.
Consumers should not sign blank time cards.
Care Plan
Everyone participating in the PCA Choice Program is required by law to have a care plan. This plan is based on the four areas of service identified in your assessment and on the number of service units you receive.
Your care plan specifies the type(s) of assistance you need and when you need it. You may choose to develop your own care plan with the assistance of your doctor or you can have a Qualified Professional help you.
Your PCA responsibilities concerning Time Cards and State Enrollment
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is now requiring all PCA’s to register in order to bill for the services the PCA’s provide. These forms are included in all employee packages and must be sent to Minnesota Department of Human Services immediately after being hired.
Please make sure these forms are filled out completely and returned to ILICIL with your newly hired PCA packets.
The forms are:
DHS – MHCP PCA Enrollment Form
DHS – Provider Agreement Non-Pay-To Form
When you receive your MHCP number from the State of Minnesota, please call us at (320) 529-9000 or (888) 529-0743 to let us know your number.
Time Cards… All time cards MUST be submitted to ILICIL no later than Wednesday by Noon following the 2 week work period or you may NOT be paid until the following pay period.
You can fax it to us at (320) 529-0747 – It is highly recommended that you call us to make sure we have received your time card at (320) 529-9000 or (888) 529-0743.
Your can drop it in the mail – Please note that there may be problems with the US mail or Holidays that may effect when we receive your time card. We need to receive it in our office by Wednesday. You can mail it to: ILICIL, 519 – 2nd Street North, St. Cloud, MN 56303.
You can personally drop it off at the address listed above no later than Wednesday.
We have to process many time cards and they are time sensitive so no time cards will be accepted after Wednesday.
You can call us to make sure we have received your time card at (320) 529-9000 or (888) 529-0743.
Consumer Safeguards
Vulnerable Adult Abuse and Exploitation
People who use PCA services have rights and protections under Minnesota State laws that govern the Mistreatment of Minors and Vulnerable Adults. Here are some things covered under these laws:
Physical abuse is when someone is harming you by hurting your body. This includes hitting, slapping, punching, pushing, refusing to help someone with a medical need or not giving someone important medication.
Sexual Abuse is when someone touches you sexually, talks to you sexually or shows you sexual material or body parts when you did not want them to. Abuse can also be when someone touches you in ways that make you feel uncomfortable.
Financial abuse/exploitations are when someone used your money or accounts without your giving permission to do so in a different way than you instructed.
If any of these types of abuse are happening to you, you need to report this immediately to someone who can help you.
If you are in immediate danger you should always call 911.
Emergency Plans
Emergency plans address your immediate health needs when something unexpected happens to you.
For instance, having an emergency plan in place and telling a PCA what to do if you have a seizure or develop a high fever.
You may want to carry a card or small piece of paper with you and also post this information in your home.
Your diagnosis
Your medications
Your allergies
Health conditions that might occur and what to do
Emergency contact information, name and phone number for your doctor.
Insurance information
Confidentiality
Information about your personal care needs is considered confidential and should not be shared with other people. It is illegal for your PCA’s, agency staff and/or your Qualified Professional to talk with other people about your care. Your agency may share information in your care plan with new PCA staff to ensure they are able to provide the assistance you need.