PCA Services

Attention current and future PCA families and employees!

Arc Northland has decided to transition to only providing PCA Choice services in the future. This change will be effective as of May 15, 2010. Under PCA Choice, families are responsible for hiring, training, and scheduling of the PCA staff.  

What does this mean?

For Families: Families are responsible for hiring, firing, training and scheduling PCA staff.

*Arc will keep record of resumes for families that need help finding PCA’s to hire.

For PCA staff:

·         If you are currently working with a family with a PCA family that is Choice, disregard this message.

·         If you are currently working with a family with a PCA family that is regular and the family chooses to switch agencies; Arc Northland will maintain records and resume’s of all current employee’s. Arc will to give these to assist families in finding the right PCA for their families.

Call Chelsae Kalm at Arc Northland if you have any questions at (218)726-4841.

If you are interested in employment, please send in resume to Arc Northland and we will keep it on file for families needing assistance in finding a PCA.

Our philosophy:

We believe that parents are the experts on their own children and we will strive to provide PCA services that are as family/parent-driven as possible.

PCA North

What are PCA services?

Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services help people with disabilities of all ages to live independently in the community or in their family home by providing assistance with:

• Activities of daily living (e.g. dressing, grooming, bathing, etc.)
• Instrumental activities of daily living (e.g. meal preparation, managing finances, participating in community activities)
• Health-related functions (e.g. tube feedings, special skin care)
• Redirection and intervention for behavior issues (e.g. reminders to do activities of daily living, redirection of behavior that is harmful to self or others)

What is PCA choice?

Under the PCA choice option, more responsibility is shifted to the consumer/family, and the PCA agency acts as the employer or record. This means that the consumer/family is responsible for:

• Finding, hiring/firing, and training staff
• Supervising and scheduling staff

The PCA choice agency is responsible for:

• Billing for services
• Paying staff and witholding all taxes
• Applying for a criminal background check for all staff
• Maintaining liability insurance

The benefits of using the PCA choice option are that the consumer/family has more control over the service and that PCA staff are able to get a higher rate of pay due to lower administrative costs.

What is a qualified professional?

Under both PCA options, you have the choice to either supervise your own PCA staff or to request supervision from a qualified professional. The qualified professional can help you with writing a care plan and with training and supervising PCA staff. The qualified professional must be a registered nurse, licensed social worker, or mental health professional.

Who we serve:

Arc Northland/PCA North is enrolled with the state of Minnesota as both a traditional PCA provider organization and as a PCA choice provider organization. We can serve individuals who are on or eligible for Medical Assistance (MA).

Our main focus is to provide PCA services for families of children with FASD, mental illness, or behavioral issues. We will consider serving adults and children with other types of disabilities, if appropriate.

To be eligible for PCA services through PCA North, you or your child must:

• Be eligible for or receiving Medical Assistance (MA)
• Have a doctor's order stating that PCA services are medically necessary
• Be able to make decisions about your own care or have a responsible party who can do so
• Have a screening assessment done by a public health nurse

For more information about PCA North, contact Chelsae Kalm at 218-726-4841 or Missy Booth at (218) 726-4724

PCA North Employee Forms

• PCA Job Application
• PCA Timesheet
• 2010 Payroll Calendar

“What can you do if your PCA services are reduced or terminated?”

 With all the legislative changes to the PCA program that began last summer, many families are  facing a significant reduction in PCA services as they get reassessed over the next few months. If you receive a Notice of PCA Termination or Hours Reduction, be aware that you do have the right to appeal. Appeals should be based on a belief that the assessor did not fairly consider your or your family member’s need for physical help, cuing and constant supervision, or behavioral issues which meet the Level I criteria (harm to self, others, or property damage). If you decide to appeal, it is very important that you ask for the appeal in writing within 30 days of receiving the notice. If you need the services to continue at the same level while you appeal, request that PCA services continue pending appeal in that same letter. 

Your appeal request can be sent to:

 Appeals Office -  Minnesota Department of Human Services

PO Box 64941

St. Paul, MN  55164-0941

Phone:  (651) 431-3600

Fax:  (651) 431-7523