A local health department nurse case monitor performs an assessment of the recipient’s personal care needs and the applicant’s available support system.  If the applicant’s personal care needs can be met by the program’s services, then the applicant is encouraged to identify a personal care provider to assist them with their care.  Providers may not be a member of the recipient’s immediate family, but may be a friend or neighbor.  If the recipient does not know a provider, the nurse case monitor can assist the recipient locate one.

The frequency of services provided to the recipient is determined by the assessment performed by a nurse case monitor from the local health department.  Depending on the assessment, services may be provided from one to seven days a week.  Once the assessment is completed the nurse case monitor will develop a plan of care with the recipient, and the appropriate training for the provider will be arranged.  Skilled nursing services, such as those provided by a registered nurse, are not provided by this program.

A nurse case monitor is available daily to answer questions or address problems.  The case monitor makes a home visit at least every 4 months to review the recipients care and their satisfaction with services provided. Personal care providers are not employees of the local health department. Providers are self- employed or work through an approved personal care provider agency.

Applications to become an approved provider in the Medicaid Personal Care Program are available at each local health department. To become a provider in the program applicants:

• Must be 18 years of age or older;

• Must not be the spouse, child, parent, sibling, in-law, or have a “step relationship” to the recipient;

• Must be acceptable to the recipient;

• Must be able to read, write, and follow instructions;

• Must be certified by a medical doctor as being physically and mentally able to perform the required duties as provided in the recipients plan of care;

• Must be willing to submit to a criminal background check; and
• Must accept instructions and training in the provision of personal care services.