Services: Traditional vs. PCA Choice

A Caring Company, Inc. provides services under both the Traditional PCA (PCPO) Services Option and the PCA Choice Services Option. Some of the characteristics of the two care options are the same, but, in general, Traditional PCA Services and PCA Choice Services are very different programs.

Characteristics for Both Options

Regardless of whether a client chooses to receive our Traditional PCA Services or our PCA Choice Services, A Caring Company, Inc. makes sure our services meet our clients' needs. We do the following under either option:

Provide Qualified Professional supervision.
Complete criminal background checks on potential PCAs.
Bill the State for PCA services delivered.
Withhold employee income taxes and social security.
Pay all employer taxes and unemployment taxes.
Carry workers' compensation and liability insurance.
Process and maintain DHS enrollment.
Stay up-to-date on PCA program changes.
Hold true to all written agreements with clients, PCAs, and all Responsible Parties.

At A Caring Company, Inc., we are partners with our clients and our goal is to provide them with the services that will best fit their unique situations. In order to help them determine what jobs they want their PCAs to perform and what responsibilities they would like to undertake themselves, a simple questionnaire is used when setting up new clients. This questionaire helps with figuring out which service option to go with. During their Client Assessment, the Public Health Nurse will decide which clients are eligible for PCA Choice. Just because a client is eligible does not mean PCA Choice is the best service option for him/her. Clients can always switch between the two options. They are briefly outlined below.

Tradtional Services

Most of our clients choose to receive their care through Traditional PCA Services. With Traditional Services, A Caring Company, Inc. is in charge of making employment decisions, but clients can still give their PCAs daily work direction and may adjust the schedule to meet their needs. As the employer, we are ultimately responsible for meeting all employment laws and requirements. Compared to the other option, the Traditional PCA Services strategy allows A Caring Company, Inc. to play a more active, involved role in the care of our clients. Choosing the Traditional PCA Services Option makes A Caring Company, Inc. responsible for:

Developing client Care Plans (with the help of our clients and/or their Responsible Parties).
Hiring, training, scheduling, and firing PCA staff.
Overseeing and evaluating PCA staff.
Monitoring PCA hour usage.
Providing back-up PCA staff when necessary.

This option gives us the freedom to be flexible with what our clients want to do. For example, many of our clients elect to schedule their own PCAs and have us take care of all the steps involved with hiring and firing PCAs. We can be creative with your health care wishes.

PCA Choice Services

The PCA Choice Services Option gives clients more responsibility. Under PCA Choice, the client (and/or the client's Responsible Party) is considered the employer; The PCA agency is a fiscal intermediary. The PCA Choice Option makes the client / Responsible Party accountable for:

Developing Care Plans (can elect assistance from the Qualified Professional).
Finding, hiring, training, scheduling, paying, monitoring, and firing PCAs.
Finding back up PCAs.
More input on PCA wages.
Monitoring PCA hour usage.
Maintaining documentation of PCA tasks and actions.

All PCAs who work for a client under PCA Choice are eligible to join Minnesota's PCA Union (SEIU). These PCAs pay union dues and also vote in union matters. Agencies acting as fiscal intermediaries must meet the terms of SEIU, including paying the set minimum wage, paying PTO at specified rates, and collecting union dues.

Note: Certain people may not be eligible to receive our PCA Choice Services. Those who are ineligible include individuals on the Minnesota Restricted Recipient Program.

For more information on the differences between our different care options, please read what Minnesota's DHS has to say about Traditional PCA Services and PCA Choice Services. You can also contact us with any questions.