Personal Care Management
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IMPORTANT: FI Transition to Tempus Unlimited
As of January 1, 2022, Tempus Unlimited is the ONLY Fiscal Intermediary (FI) for the MassHealth PCA program. The Northeast Arc and Stavros Fiscal Intermediary programs are now closed. All timesheets must be submitted to Tempus Unlimited. Please only submit timesheets for hours already worked. Get more information at tempusunlimited.org/ma-transition.
Timesheets can be sent to Tempus Unlimited by fax: (800) 359-2884, mail: 600 Technology Center Dr., Stoughton, MA 02072, or e-timesheet: timesheets.tempusunlimited.org. To learn more about signing up for e-timesheet, please visit tempusunlimited.org/fi-transition-e-timesheet-migration.
Due to an extremely high volume of calls, wait times for Tempus Unlimited customer service are much longer than normal. To try and reduce call wait times Tempus Unlimited is asking that Consumers and PCAs refrain from calling to ask about the status of their FI transition paperwork. In the meantime, PCAs will continue to be paid, even if their transition paperwork has not been received.
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program
Click here for COVID-19 Update
If you or a loved one is a MassHealth member who receives hands-on support from a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) but are struggling to access these services during the COVID-19 outbreak, call the MassOptions hotline at 1-844-422-6277.
The Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program is a MassHealth program that allows people with long-term disabilities to live at home independently. The Northeast Arc Personal Care Management (PCM) program serves about 3,600 individuals living in communities throughout northeastern Massachusetts, Greater Boston, and the Metro West area.
Our Skills Trainers, with the help of a nurse and occupational therapist, assess the personal care needs of the individual and prepare a PCA application to submit to the consumer’s insurer. The consumer’s insurance (MassHealth/Medicaid, SCO or One Care Program) grants final approval of the recommended Care Plan. Once approval is received, the Skills Trainer teaches the individual how to successfully hire, train, supervise, and pay his or her own Personal Care Attendants.
The PCA Program is a consumer-directed program meaning PCAs are hired, trained and supervised by the person with the disability (consumer). PCAs do not work for Northeast Arc or any other agency – they work for the consumer. As the employer, a consumer chooses who to hire, sets up a PCA schedule and trains PCAs to meet his or her own personal needs.
If the consumer cannot independently manage his or her PCA program, the consumer may have the help of a surrogate. The surrogate is often a family member but may be any other person identified by the consumer who has the ability to manage the program.
Northeast Arc’s Personal Care Management program works directly with Northeast Arc’s Fiscal Intermediary department to pay PCAs. Click here for the Fiscal Intermediary website.
Depending on individual need, assistance may be approved to help complete the following tasks:
Mobility/transfers
Passive range of motion
Taking medications
Bathing or grooming
Dressing or undressing
Eating
Toileting
And in some cases: light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and transportation to medical appointments.
PCA time is NOT approved for:
Babysitting
Recreation
Advocacy
Cueing, prompting, guiding or coaching
Supervision
Safety
Eligibility
The Personal Care Attendant program is available to people with disabilities who meet the following conditions:
• MassHealth/Medicaid eligible
• Have a permanent or chronic disability that impairs their ability to perform activities of daily living without physical assistance
• Needs hands-on/physical assistance with two or more activities of daily living
• Have a prescription/authorization for personal care services from a Physician or Nurse Practitioner
Make a Referral
To refer someone for the PCA program, click the button below to submit a referral online.
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