Select Committee on Aging
Human Services Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE SERVICES UNDER THE CONNECTICUT HOME CARE PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY
SUMMARY: This act requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide personal care assistance (PCA) services under the Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders if these services are (1) not available under the Medicaid state plan, (2) more cost effective on an individual client basis than existing Medicaid state plan services, and (3) approved by the federal government.
By law, DSS also provides PCA services through (1) a state-funded PCA pilot program for certain qualifying seniors, (2) the PCA Medicaid waiver program for disabled adults, and (3) the acquired brain injury (ABI) Medicaid waiver program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 2010
BACKGROUND
PCA Services
Personal care assistants provide non-medical care, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, walking, toileting, or transferring from a bed to a chair. Consumer-directed PCA services provide an alternative to nursing homes or agency-provided home care. Under these programs, participants hire their own assistants to help with personal care and activities of daily living instead of going through a home health care agency. The participant hires and manages the assistant, but a financial intermediary handles the paperwork.
OLR Tracking: ND: KM: PF: TS