History
Today
Question: What is the best aspect of the MA PCA Program? Answer: Consumer choice and management.
Question: What is the biggest problem?
Answer: No health insurance for PCA's. Most of each consumer's PCA turnover is related to their PCAs finding jobs with benefits.
- 2009: Online PCA Directory
- 2008: Union for PCA's (1199 SEIU) - Collective Bargaining leads to rate increase.
- 2006: Expanded who could be paid as a PCA to some family members
- 2004/2005: Members cannot "bank" hours - they must be used in a consistent manner.
- 2003/2004: The definition of a PCA unit changed from one hour to 15 minutes (HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
- 2002: New RFR (?) issued that allowed for surrogates and resulted in an increased number of Personal Care Management Agencies, including ASAPs (Aging Service Access Point).
- 2001: Program eligibility changed to 2 or more ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
- 1998: Program restructured to include Fiscal Intermediary
- 1974: Introduction of Program
- PCA agencies performed payroll functions
- Eligibility: at least 10 hours per week of assistance needed
- PCA agencies were typically ILCs (Independent Living Centers) and ARCs (Aging Resource Centers)
