How do I know if I'm eligible for PCA services?
To receive PCA services, a client must be on medical assistance. To qualify for medical assistance, the client's income and asset levels must be below a certain amount set by the State. Once a client is enrolled in medical assistance, he/she needs to be assessed by a Public Health Nurse from his/her County in order to determine what PCA services he/she is are eligible for. For more information about medical assistance or to schedule an initial assessment for PCA services, you should contact your County. The County's Human Services Department usually deals with PCA services for assisting people with disabilities or helping the elderly.

How do I get started as a client with A Caring Company, Inc.?
If you are currently receiving PCA services through another agency and wish to transfer to A Caring Company, Inc., it is fairly simple. We complete a form and submit it to DHS to transfer you services. Then we work with you to get any existing PCAs set up with our agency or find you new ones. Click here for more information on transfering.

If you haven't been assessed yet for PCA services, you must contact your County and set up an initial assessment for PCA services. Once you've had your assessment, you simply tell the Public Health Nurse that you choose A Caring Company, inc. as your PCA agency.

I'm currently with another agency. Can my PCAs come with me if I transfer agencies?
Absolutely, PCA-client combos transfer to our agency all the time. If a PCA has other clients at another agency and wants to continue working with those clients through the other agency, that PCA sign-ups to work with our agency for the client that is transferring to us and may continue to work with the other agency for he other client at the same time. PCAs that work for more than one agency must track the total hours they work. They cannot work more than 275 hours a month (across all agencies). When a PCA starts or transfers to a our agency, they are required to complete our agency's paperwork, and DHS requires that they must pass another background study.

How soon can I begin my services with a Caring Company?
If you are just starting PCA services, it usually takes 2-3 weeks for PCA background studies to be completed and to get PCAs properly trained. When tranfering agencies, 3-4 weeks is the usual time required to get all setup.

What if I do not like the caregiver you have provided me?
A Caring Company, Inc. works hard to ensure that our clients are happy with the PCAs we provide. Many clients ask us to hire their friends or family members to provide their PCA services, but others rely on us to find PCAs. When we provide a PCA that the client does not know, we have the client interview the PCA prior to starting services to help make sure the client will feel comfortable with the person providing the services. After working with the PCA, if a client decides that he/she is not satisfied, we will work with the client to find a new PCA.

What is flexible use?
When you are assessed for PCA services, you are allocated a certain number of "units," which determine how many hours per day your PCA may work. Most people receiving PCA services can use their units flexibly. A service agreement (usually one year long) gives a total unit amount. Often, a service agreement is split in half (into two 6-month periods) and the total units split (50/50) and assigned to each period. Nonetheless, you may split the units differently if you chosse but no more than 75% can be allocated to one 6-month period of time. This can be helpful with children receiving services to allot more units to the 6-month period that covers the period of time when school is out for the summer. Clients must tell the Public Health Nurse at their assessment (or reassessment) if they want something other than a 50/50 split. Units do not roll-over from one 6 month period to the next, so getting the correct allocation is very important.

Clients also have flexibility with how many hours per day their PCA works. For example, if a client is allocated 2 hours per day, they can have the PCA work 2 hours every day or something different, such as 4 hours on Monday, 4 hours on Wednesday, and 6 hours on Saturday. You can even use more hours one week if you are sick and cut back the next week. A Qualified Professional works with our clients to come up with a monthly usage plan. It is important to manage allocated hours so they last through the end of each six month period of time.

What is a Responsible Party and what do they do?
A Responsible Party is the person who is responsible for making decisions for the client regarding his/her PCA services. A client may be his/her own Responsible Party. A person other than the client is assigned as a Responsible Party when the client is a minor child or an adult not capable of performing the duties of the Responsible Party. Responsible Parties monitor and verify the hours worked by the PCAs and sign timesheets. For PCA Choice clients, the Responsible Party is the direct supervisor of the PCAs and handles scheduling, hiring, terminating, and training.

My PCA hours were cut. What can I do?
When a client has a reassessment from the public health nurse, their allocated hours can increase if the nurse determines that they now need additional services. The nurse may also reduce the time allocated for PCA services if he/she does not believe the client needs all of the services they were previously receiving. If a client does not believe the decrease was warranted, they may file an appeal. The appeal must be filed within 10 days of the date in the upper left corner of their current service authorization. Most appeals are completed over the phone. A judge listens to the evidence supplied by the client, such as doctors notes, and then makes a determination. The judge can increase, decrease, or uphold the units allocated to the client by the nurse.

I'm going on vacation. Can I receive PCA services outside of Minnesota?
If a client leaves the United States, they cannot receive PCA services while out of the country. However, if a client goes on a short vacation outside of Minnesota, his/her PCA may accompany the client. PCA services continue as usual. If the client is not their own Responsible Party, the Responsible Party must accompany them or monitor the PCA services provided through phone contact.