Personal Assistant Services (Attendant Care)
The Center For Independent Living of North Central PA currently provides Personal Assistant Services (Attendant Care) to consumers below and over age 60 through two sources, The Department of Public Welfare and The Department of Aging.
Personal Assistant Services (Attendant Care under 60)
CILNCP provides attendant care services for people under age 60 in the following Pennsylvania Counties:
Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Union
The purpose of the Pennsylvania Attendant Care Program is to enable individuals with physical disabilities to perform activities of daily living. Consumers have ultimate control of their attendant care services including the right to recruit, hire, train, supervise, pay and, if necessary, terminate their attendants.
The Attendant Care Program includes the Attendant Care Waiver and the Attendant Care Act 150 Program.
Services Available May Include:
- In-home personal assistance services
- Supports Coordination services
- Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
- Nursing Home Transition (those seeking to move from nursing homes)
Who is Eligible?
Pennsylvania residents who are ages eighteen (18) through fifty-nine (59) inclusive, mentally alert, and who have physical disabilities may be eligible to receive services through the Attendant Care Program. Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
General Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for either the Attendant Care Act 150 Program or the Attendant Care Waiver, individuals must:
- Be at least eighteen (18) years of age but less than sixty (60) years of age.
- Be mentally alert and capable of:
- Selecting, supervising and, if needed, firing an attendant
- Managing one's own financial affairs
- Managing one's own legal affairs
- Experience any medically determinable physical impairment that can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or that may result in death.
- Due to physical impairment(s), require assistance to complete functions of daily living, self-care and mobility.
- Be a citizen of the United States or immigrant lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
- Be a resident of Pennsylvania.
Additional requirements to participate in the Attendant Care Medicaid Waiver:
Individuals must require nursing home care facility level of care for a period of twelve (12) months or longer.
Possess income and resources within limits established in the Medicaid Waiver for Attendant Care Services.
Additional requirements to participate in the Attendant Care Act 150 Program:
While most consumers do not pay into the Attendant Care Act 150 Program, individuals with higher income may be assessed a minimal co-payment. This co-payment is based on the consumer’s income and will never be more than the total cost of services.
Additional information may be found at the Department of Public Welfare Website:
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/MedicalAssistance/SuppServWaivers/
Helpful Information:
Act 150 of 1986 (the Attendant Care Services Act) was signed into law on December 10, 1986 and provides for the availability of attendant care services across the Commonwealth effective July 1, 1987.
In 1995, Pennsylvania implemented the Attendant Care Waiver 2003-2008, a Federal Medicaid Waiver, to access federal funding for the program.
Personal Assistant Services (Over age 60) PDA Waiver
A long term care program that assists frail elderly Pennsylvanians with the services they need to live independently in their own homes and communities.
Consider these benefits as you read about the PDA Waiver:
- Provides an alternative to long term care in a nursing facility;
- Allows you to receive services in your home and community;
- Offers a wide array of services;
- Gives consumer choice of approved services and providers;
- Qualifies participants for other Medical Assistance benefits; and
- Provides on-going support and assistance from the local Area Agency on Aging.
What is the PDA Waiver Program?
Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and provided statewide by your local Area Agency on Aging, the program provides long term care services to frail older adults as an alternative to nursing facilities.
Services Available May Include:
- home health and personal care services
- home support
- attendant care
- respite care
- adult day care
- transportation
- home modifications
- specialized medical equipment and supplies
- counseling
- extended state plan physician services
- home delivered meals
- personal emergency response, and companions
- Care management and service coordination is provided by your local Area Agency on Aging.
Who is Eligible?
You must be a resident of Pennsylvania, at least 60 years of age, and meet all of the following criteria:
- Require the level of care of a nursing facility; (A consumer must be assessed and determined eligible for nursing facility care. The determination is based on a medical evaluation conducted by the consumer’s physician, and an assessment conducted by the Area Agency on Aging.)
- Can be served in the community by available health and social services;
- Meet the financial requirements, as determined by your local County Assistance Office - income at or below $1869.00 per month, which is 300% of the 2007 SSI benefit level (for 2006 the income limit was $1809.00), and assets at or below $8,000.00. The Department of Public Welfare, through the local County Assistance Office, assesses the income and assets of the consumer and determines the consumer’s initial and on-going financial eligibility for waiver. Only income and assets of the consumer are considered; and
- Agree to the requirements and responsibilities of the program.
How does the PDA Waiver Program Work ?
Each PDA Waiver consumer will have the support and assistance of their local Area Agency on Aging. The agency’s staff will regularly assess your needs; help develop and maintain an adequate and appropriate plan of care; assist in selecting Medical Assistance and program approved services and product providers, and monitor the quality of those services provided.
What does the PDA Waiver Program Cost?
There are no consumer payments or co-payments to the providers for the purchase of approved services. Since consumers in the PDA Waiver receive Long Term Care services funded by Medical Assistance, Estate Recovery does apply.
How do I get started?
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for more information regarding the PDA Waiver and other aging services or call the Department of Public Welfare toll-free at 1-800-692-7462.
Additional information can be found at:
http://www.aging.state.pa.us/aging/cwp/view.asp?a=284&q=173701
The Community Services Program for Persons with Physical Disabilities (CSPPPD) provides services to people with severe physical disabilities. Individuals must have an other related condition or physical disability, Individuals must experience at least three substantial functional limitations in the areas of mobility, communication, self-care, learning, self-direction, or capacity for independent living.
To be eligible for either the OBRA Waiver, or the Independence Waiver
- Possess income and resources within limits established in the Medicaid Waiver programs.
- Have a disability that is likely to continue indefinitely and results in three or more substantial functional limitations in major life activities.
Additional requirements to participate in the OBRA Waiver:
- Must have an other related condition that occurred before the age of 22 and be age 18 or over.
- Cannot have mental retardation or a major mental disorder as a primary diagnosis.
- Requires services at the level of an intermediate care facility for persons with an other related condition (ICF-ORC).
Additional requirements to participate in the Independence Waiver:
- Must be age 18 and over with a physical disability.
- Cannot have mental retardation or a major mental disorder as a primary diagnosis or be ventilator dependent.
- Must be clinically eligible for a nursing facility.
Services Available May Include:
- Assistive technology, specialized medical equipment, and supplies
- Community integration services
- Community transition services
- Daily living services
- Education services
- Environmental adaptations
- Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
- Respite services
- Services coordination
- Therapies (behavior, occupational, physical, speech)
- Transportation services
- Visiting nurse
- Other services may be available
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