Personal Care Management

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 5,000 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.

To speak with your Skills Trainer or to make a referral for PCM, please call 978-762-0301.