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Personal Care Assistance Program Manual

Personal care assistance (PCA) is available to eligible people enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program. PCA helps a person with day-to-day activities in their home and community. The goal is to help a person maximize their independence. PCA offers options to allow the service to be consumer-directed.

To find a specific PCA-related form, refer to the PCA forms page.

COVID-19 pandemic information

In response to the COVID-19 peacetime emergency, DHS has updated policy/procedures to ensure continuity of care for people in Minnesota who access services. These changes temporarily waive the restriction on allowing certain family members to provide and receive payment for PCA services to MHCP-enrolled PCA members, effective July 1, 2021, through Nov. 11, 2023 (refer to MHCP Provider Manual – COVID-19 – Family members of MHCP-enrolled PCA members).

What’s new

Date	Section	Page	Action
12/15/23	Transition to CFSS	Transition from PCA and CSG to CFSS	Made the following changes: · Added a bullet point to the phase I section to indicate that DHS resubmitted an application to the federal government for approval (completed November 2023) · Updated the estimated start of phase II to 2024
12/12/23	Covered services	PCA services in home and community-based services (HCBS) settings	Posted new page For more information, refer to the Dec. 12, 2023, eList announcement.
7/3/23	Provider requirements	PCA and CSG enhanced rate/budget	Updated the additional information section to explain that stipends are available until funding has been exhausted or June 30, 2025, whichever is sooner
4/28/23	Transition to CFSS	Transition from PCA and CSG to CFSS	Added links to trainings
3/20/23	Transition to CFSS	Transition from PCA and CSG to CFSS	Added and updated links to trainings
3/15/23	Provider requirements	PCA and CSG enhanced rate/budget	Comprehensively reviewed and made the following changes: · Consolidated existing content from the PCA Manual and CBSM into one page about PCA and CSG enhanced rate/budget · Added supplemental instructions about the budget exception process for AC and EW
2/10/23	Various	· PCA provider training requirements · PCA worker standardized training · Transition from PCA and CSG to CFSS · Updates to training and test for PCA workers	Updated the link to the DHS PCA and CFSS Training and Test
12/2/22	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Added a note in the additional information section that stipend funding has been exhausted, and stipends are no longer available
11/15/22	Transition to CFSS	Transition from PCA and CSG to CFSS	New page For more information, refer to the Nov. 15, 2022, eList announcement.
5/31/22	PCA worker requirements	PCA worker criteria	Reduced the eligibility for the enhanced rate from 12 hours per day of PCA to 10 hours per day, effective Jan. 1, 2022
3/22/22	PCA worker requirements	PCA worker standardized training	Made the following changes: · Updated contact information for workers not affiliated with a provider agency · Added instructions for requesting a copy of a training certificate
2/22/22	Qualified professional requirements	Qualified professional (QP) authorization	Comprehensive review with the following changes: · Updated the title to more accurately describe the page’s content · Clarified information throughout the page · Added a definition of QP
2/2/22	Qualified professional requirements	Qualified professional (QP) services	Comprehensive review with the following changes: · Clarified information throughout the page · Added definitions of QP and QP visits · Added sections about service amount, timelines, delivery method and documentation
2/2/22	Qualified professional requirements	Qualified professional (QP) criteria	Comprehensive review with the following changes: · Clarified information throughout the page · Added information about how to look up a training certificate
12/21/21	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Made the following changes: · Reduced eligibility for the enhanced rate/budget from 12 hours per day of PCA to 10 hours per day, effective Jan. 1, 2022 · Updated instructions in the modifying existing service agreements section
9/21/21	Eligibility	Eligibility for PCA services	Updated the note in the eligibility criteria section about foster care settings
7/13/21	Provider requirements	PCA provider training requirements	Made the following changes: · Updated the overview section to add information about the transition to Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) · Removed information about Steps for Success because DHS is not currently offering the training for new owners and managers, in preparation for CFSS · Updated information about the training for the designated billing person · Added information about training for new QPs · Added information about the CFSS transition training for existing PCA agency owners, managers and QPs
7/1/21	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Updated information about the stipend in the additional information section
12/2/20	PCA requirements	PCA worker criteria	This page includes policy affected by the temporary waiver on MHCP Provider Manual – COVID-19 – Family members of MHCP-enrolled PCA members Note: No changes to page content
11/3/20	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Removed information about CDCS because it is included on CDCS – Enhanced budget process
10/7/20	PCA requirements	PCA worker criteria	Comprehensive review with the following changes: · Clarified content throughout the page · Added resources about the enhanced rate
6/17/20	PCA requirements and qualified professional requirements	· PCA worker criteria · Qualified professional services · Qualified professional visits	These pages include policy affected by Bulletin #20-56-05: Flexibility for PCA qualified professionals to provide remote oversight and to increase the number of hours a PCA agency can bill for an individual worker (PDF). For more information, see the June 17, 2020, eList announcement. Note: No changes to page content
6/10/20	N/A	Guidance for PCA agencies and other agencies providing in-home support during the COVID-19 emergency	New resource for PCA agencies and other providers of in-home services during the COVID-19 emergency
6/9/20	Covered services	PCA health-related procedures and tasks	Comprehensive review with the following changes: · Clarified non-covered services · Added additional resources
4/16/20	PCA requirements	Updates to training and test for PCA workers	New page For more information, see the April 16, 2020, eList announcement.
4/3/20	Provider requirements	Provider marketing for PCA services	Comprehensive review with the following changes: · Separated existing content into more specific sections · Clarified information throughout · Added secondary information and additional resources
3/25/20	Eligibility	Extended PCA services	Comprehensive review; clarified information throughout
2/21/20	PCA requirements	Ventilator support and training	Comprehensive review; clarified language throughout and added additional resources
9/16/19	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Clarified CSG instructions for FMS providers
9/12/19	PCA requirements	Individual PCA standardized training	Added link to PCA Certificate Form – Request a Copy
9/12/19	Forms	PCA forms	Added link to PCA Certificate Form – Request a Copy
7/5/19	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	For information about this update, see the July 5, 2019, eList announcement
4/12/19	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Updated background section For more information, see the April 12, 2019, eList
2/7/19	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Updated information about CDCS and extended PCA
6/29/18	Provider requirements	Provider agency/FMS provider requirements for enhanced rate or budget	Explanation of process and procedure for provider agencies and FMS providers

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Personal Care Assistance Program Manual

COVID-19 pandemic information

What’s new

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Action

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