MDH New PCA Recomendations for Provider Standards

The MDH came out with their recommendations for the PCA program in February 2009. The recommendations are:
1. The DHS shall retain the authority to regulate and oversee all PCA services that use exclusively MA dollars.
2. Enrollment standards for individual PCAs should require that a PCA must complete and provide evidence of having completed a basic core set of training prior to enrollment with DHS. Included in the recommendations are the minimum training requirements and core curriculm that should be a part of this training. PCAs providing services to any recipient qualified as having complex medical or unique needs must have additional training. Prior to enrollment with DHS, a PCA must pass a criminal background check.
3. Enrollment standards for PCA agencies should require that all PCA agency managers, qualified professional, financial, and other key staff of the agency complete the DHS "Steps for Success" training program prior to enrollment with DHS. All agency owners, managers, and qualified professionals must pass a background check prior to enrollment. Agencies must have written grievance policy and compliance procedures for both staff and recipients. Agencies must pay a fee to enrol with DHS as a provider.
4. Standards for individual PCA agencies should require that agencies that have been disenrolled due to fraud, abuse of substantiated complaints about quality of care and any individuals with ownership, administrative or managerial ties to the disenrollment entity, shall be barred from establishing a new agency for 5 years.
5. Standards for assessors should require training for the individuals who are responsible for conducting the assessment of recipients.