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Chapter 256B

Section 256B.0655

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256B.0655 Personal care assistant services.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section and sections 256B.0651, 256B.0653, 256B.0654, and 256B.0656, the terms defined in subdivisions 1a to 1i have the meanings given them unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context.

Subd. 1a. Activities of daily living. "Activities of daily living" includes eating, toileting, grooming, dressing, bathing, transferring, mobility, and positioning.

Subd. 1b. Assessment. "Assessment" means a review and evaluation of a recipient's need for home care services conducted in person. Assessments for personal care assistant services shall be conducted by the county public health nurse or a certified public health nurse under contract with the county. A face-to-face assessment must include: documentation of health status, determination of need, evaluation of service effectiveness, identification of appropriate services, service plan development or modification, coordination of services, referrals and follow-up to appropriate payers and community resources, completion of required reports, recommendation of service authorization, and consumer education. Once the need for personal care assistant services is determined under this section or sections 256B.0651, 256B.0653, 256B.0654, and 256B.0656, the county public health nurse or certified public health nurse under contract with the county is responsible for communicating this recommendation to the commissioner and the recipient. A face-to-face assessment for personal care assistant services is conducted on those recipients who have never had a county public health nurse assessment. A face-to-face assessment must occur at least annually or when there is a significant change in the recipient's condition or when there is a change in the need for personal care assistant services. A service update may substitute for the annual face-to-face assessment when there is not a significant change in recipient condition or a change in the need for personal care assistant service. A service update or review for temporary increase includes a review of initial baseline data, evaluation of service effectiveness, redetermination of service need, modification of service plan and appropriate referrals, update of initial forms, obtaining service authorization, and on going consumer education. Assessments must be completed on forms provided by the commissioner within 30 days of a request for home care services by a recipient or responsible party.

Subd. 1c. Care plan. "Care plan" means a written description of personal care assistant services developed by the qualified professional or the recipient's physician with the recipient or responsible party to be used by the personal care assistant with a copy provided to the recipient or responsible party.

Subd. 1d. Health-related functions. "Health-related functions" means functions that can be delegated or assigned by a licensed health care professional under state law to be performed by a personal care assistant.

Subd. 1e. Instrumental activities of daily living. "Instrumental activities of daily living" includes meal planning and preparation, managing finances, shopping for food, clothing, and other essential items, performing essential household chores, communication by telephone and other media, and getting around and participating in the community.

Subd. 1f. Personal care assistant. "Personal care assistant" means a person who:

(1) is at least 18 years old, except for persons 16 to 18 years of age who participated in a related school-based job training program or have completed a certified home health aide competency evaluation;

(2) is able to effectively communicate with the recipient and personal care provider organization;

(3) effective July 1, 1996, has completed one of the training requirements as specified in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0335, subpart 3, items A to E;

(4) has the ability to, and provides covered personal care assistant services according to the recipient's care plan, responds appropriately to recipient needs, and reports changes in the recipient's condition to the supervising qualified professional or physician;

(5) is not a consumer of personal care assistant services;

(6) maintains daily written records detailing:

(i) the actual services provided to the recipient; and

(ii) the amount of time spent providing the services; and

(7) is subject to criminal background checks and procedures specified in chapter 245C.

Subd. 1g. Personal care provider organization. "Personal care provider organization" means an organization enrolled to provide personal care assistant services under the medical assistance program that complies with the following:

(1) owners who have a five percent interest or more, and managerial officials are subject to a background study as provided in chapter 245C. This applies to currently enrolled personal care provider organizations and those agencies seeking enrollment as a personal care provider organization. An organization will be barred from enrollment if an owner or managerial official of the organization has been convicted of a crime specified in chapter 245C, or a comparable crime in another jurisdiction, unless the owner or managerial official meets the reconsideration criteria specified in chapter 245C;

(2) the organization must maintain a surety bond and liability insurance throughout the duration of enrollment and provides proof thereof. The insurer must notify the Department of Human Services of the cancellation or lapse of policy and the organization must maintain documentation of services as specified in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.2175, subpart 7, as well as evidence of compliance with personal care assistant training requirements;

(3) the organization must maintain documentation and a recipient file and satisfy communication requirements in section 256B.0655, subdivision 2, paragraph (f); and

(4) the organization must comply with all laws and rules governing the provision of personal care assistant services.

Subd. 1h. Responsible party. "Responsible party" means an individual who is capable of providing the support necessary to assist the recipient to live in the community, is at least 18 years old, actively participates in planning and directing of personal care assistant services, and is not the personal care assistant. The responsible party must be accessible to the recipient and the personal care assistant when personal care services are being provided and monitor the services at least weekly according to the plan of care. The responsible party must be identified at the time of assessment and listed on the recipient's service agreement and care plan. Responsible parties who are parents of minors or guardians of minors or incapacitated persons may delegate the responsibility to another adult who is not the personal care assistant during a temporary absence of at least 24 hours but not more than six months. The person delegated as a responsible party must be able to meet the definition of responsible party, except that the delegated responsible party is required to reside with the recipient only while serving as the responsible party. The delegated responsible party is not required to reside with the recipient while serving as the responsible party if competent supervision to ensure the health and safety of the recipient and monitoring of services provided are stated as part of the person's individual service plan under a home care service or home and community-based waiver program or in conjunction with a home care targeted case management service provider or other case manager. The responsible party must assure that the delegate performs the functions of the responsible party, is identified at the time of the assessment, and is listed on the service agreement and the care plan. Foster care license holders may be designated the responsible party for residents of the foster care home if case management is provided as required in section 256B.0625, subdivision 19a. For persons who, as of April 1, 1992, are sharing personal care assistant services in order to obtain the availability of 24-hour coverage, an employee of the personal care provider organization may be designated as the responsible party if case management is provided as required in section 256B.0625, subdivision 19a.

Subd. 1i. Service plan. "Service plan" means a written description of the services needed based on the assessment developed by the nurse who conducts the assessment together with the recipient or responsible party. The service plan shall include a description of the covered home care services, frequency and duration of services, and expected outcomes and goals. The recipient and the provider chosen by the recipient or responsible party must be given a copy of the completed service plan within 30 calendar days of the request for home care services by the recipient or responsible party.

Subd. 2. Personal care assistant services. (a) The personal care assistant services that are eligible for payment are services and supports furnished to an individual, as needed, to assist in accomplishing activities of daily living; instrumental activities of daily living; health-related functions through hands-on assistance, supervision, and cuing; and redirection and intervention for behavior including observation and monitoring.

(b) Payment for services will be made within the limits approved using the prior authorized process established in subdivisions 3 and 4, and sections 256B.0651, subdivisions 4 to 12, and 256B.0654, subdivision 2.

(c) The amount and type of services authorized shall be based on an assessment of the recipient's needs in these areas:

(1) bowel and bladder care;

(2) skin care to maintain the health of the skin;

(3) repetitive maintenance range of motion, muscle strengthening exercises, and other tasks specific to maintaining a recipient's optimal level of function;

(4) respiratory assistance;

(5) transfers and ambulation;

(6) bathing, grooming, and hairwashing necessary for personal hygiene;

(7) turning and positioning;

(8) assistance with furnishing medication that is self-administered;

(9) application and maintenance of prosthetics and orthotics;

(10) cleaning medical equipment;

(11) dressing or undressing;

(12) assistance with eating and meal preparation and necessary grocery shopping;

(13) accompanying a recipient to obtain medical diagnosis or treatment;

(14) assisting, monitoring, or prompting the recipient to complete the services in clauses (1) to (13);

(15) redirection, monitoring, and observation that are medically necessary and an integral part of completing the personal care assistant services described in clauses (1) to (14);

(16) redirection and intervention for behavior, including observation and monitoring;

(17) interventions for seizure disorders, including monitoring and observation if the recipient has had a seizure that requires intervention within the past three months;

(18) tracheostomy suctioning using a clean procedure if the procedure is properly delegated by a registered nurse. Before this procedure can be delegated to a personal care assistant, a registered nurse must determine that the tracheostomy suctioning can be accomplished utilizing a clean rather than a sterile procedure and must ensure that the personal care assistant has been taught the proper procedure; and

(19) incidental household services that are an integral part of a personal care service described in clauses (1) to (18).

For purposes of this subdivision, monitoring and observation means watching for outward visible signs that are likely to occur and for which there is a covered personal care service or an appropriate personal care intervention. For purposes of this subdivision, a clean procedure refers to a procedure that reduces the numbers of microorganisms or prevents or reduces the transmission of microorganisms from one person or place to another. A clean procedure may be used beginning 14 days after insertion.

(d) The personal care assistant services that are not eligible for payment are the following:

(1) services provided without a physician's statement of need as required by section 256B.0625, subdivision 19c, and included in the personal care provider agency's file for the recipient;

(2) assessments by personal care assistant provider organizations or by independently enrolled registered nurses;

(3) services that are not in the service plan;

(4) services provided by the recipient's spouse, legal guardian for an adult or child recipient, or parent of a recipient under age 18;

(5) services provided by a foster care provider of a recipient who cannot direct the recipient's own care, unless monitored by a county or state case manager under section 256B.0625, subdivision 19a;

(6) services provided by the residential or program license holder in a residence for more than four persons;

(7) services that are the responsibility of a residential or program license holder under the terms of a service agreement and administrative rules;

(8) sterile procedures;

(9) injections of fluids into veins, muscles, or skin;

(10) homemaker services that are not an integral part of a personal care assistant services;

(11) home maintenance or chore services;

(12) services not specified under paragraph (a); and

(13) services not authorized by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee.

(e) The recipient or responsible party may choose to supervise the personal care assistant or to have a qualified professional, as defined in section 256B.0625, subdivision 19c, provide the supervision. As required under section 256B.0625, subdivision 19c, the county public health nurse, as a part of the assessment, will assist the recipient or responsible party to identify the most appropriate person to provide supervision of the personal care assistant. Health-related delegated tasks performed by the personal care assistant will be under the supervision of a qualified professional or the direction of the recipient's physician. If the recipient has a qualified professional, Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0335, subpart 4, applies.

(f) In order to be paid for personal care assistant services, personal care provider organizations, and personal care assistant choice providers are required:

(1) to maintain a recipient file for each recipient for whom services are being billed that contains:

(i) the current physician's statement of need as required by section 256B.0625, subdivision 19c;

(ii) the service plan, including the monthly authorized hours, or flexible use plan;

(iii) the care plan, signed by the recipient and the qualified professional, if required or designated, detailing the personal care assistant services to be provided;

(iv) documentation, on a form approved by the commissioner and signed by the personal care assistant, specifying the day, month, year, arrival, and departure times, with AM and PM notation, for all services provided to the recipient. The form must include a notice that it is a federal crime to provide false information on personal care service billings for medical assistance payment; and

(v) all notices to the recipient regarding personal care service use exceeding authorized hours; and

(2) to communicate, by telephone if available, and in writing, with the recipient or the responsible party about the schedule for use of authorized hours and to notify the recipient and the county public health nurse in advance and as soon as possible, on a form approved by the commissioner, if the monthly number of hours authorized is likely to be exceeded for the month.

(g) The commissioner shall establish an ongoing audit process for potential fraud and abuse for personal care assistant services. The audit process must include, at a minimum, a requirement that the documentation of hours of care provided be on a form approved by the commissioner and include the personal care assistant's signature attesting that the hours shown on each bill were provided by the personal care assistant on the dates and the times specified.

Subd. 3. Assessment and service plan. Assessments under subdivision 1b and sections 256B.0651, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), and 256B.0654, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), shall be conducted initially, and at least annually thereafter, in person with the recipient and result in a completed service plan using forms specified by the commissioner. Within 30 days of recipient or responsible party request for home care services, the assessment, the service plan, and other information necessary to determine medical necessity such as diagnostic or testing information, social or medical histories, and hospital or facility discharge summaries shall be submitted to the commissioner. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 8, the commissioner shall maximize federal financial participation to pay for public health nurse assessments for personal care services. For personal care assistant services:

(1) The amount and type of service authorized based upon the assessment and service plan will follow the recipient if the recipient chooses to change providers.

(2) If the recipient's need changes, the recipient's provider may assess the need for a change in service authorization and request the change from the county public health nurse. Within 30 days of the request, the public health nurse will determine whether to request the change in services based upon the provider assessment, or conduct a home visit to assess the need and determine whether the change is appropriate. If the change in service need is due to a change in medical condition, a new physician's statement of need required by section 256B.0625, subdivision 19c, must be obtained.

(3) To continue to receive personal care assistant services after the first year, the recipient or the responsible party, in conjunction with the public health nurse, may complete a service update on forms developed by the commissioner according to criteria and procedures in subdivisions 1a to 1i and sections 256B.0651, subdivision 1; 256B.0653, subdivision 1; and 256B.0654, subdivision 1.

Subd. 4. Prior authorization. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall review the assessment, service update, request for temporary services, request for flexible use option, service plan, and any additional information that is submitted. The commissioner shall, within 30 days after receiving a complete request, assessment, and service plan, authorize home care services as follows:

(1) All personal care assistant services and supervision by a qualified professional, if requested by the recipient, must be prior authorized by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee except for the assessments established in section 256B.0651, subdivision 11. The amount of personal care assistant services authorized must be based on the recipient's home care rating. A child may not be found to be dependent in an activity of daily living if because of the child's age an adult would either perform the activity for the child or assist the child with the activity and the amount of assistance needed is similar to the assistance appropriate for a typical child of the same age. Based on medical necessity, the commissioner may authorize:

(A) up to two times the average number of direct care hours provided in nursing facilities for the recipient's comparable case mix level; or

(B) up to three times the average number of direct care hours provided in nursing facilities for recipients who have complex medical needs or are dependent in at least seven activities of daily living and need physical assistance with eating or have a neurological diagnosis; or

(C) up to 60 percent of the average reimbursement rate, as of July 1, 1991, for care provided in a regional treatment center for recipients who have Level I behavior, plus any inflation adjustment as provided by the legislature for personal care service; or

(D) up to the amount the commissioner would pay, as of July 1, 1991, plus any inflation adjustment provided for home care services, for care provided in a regional treatment center for recipients referred to the commissioner by a regional treatment center preadmission evaluation team. For purposes of this clause, home care services means all services provided in the home or community that would be included in the payment to a regional treatment center; or

(E) up to the amount medical assistance would reimburse for facility care for recipients referred to the commissioner by a preadmission screening team established under section 256B.0911 or 256B.092; and

(F) a reasonable amount of time for the provision of supervision by a qualified professional of personal care assistant services, if a qualified professional is requested by the recipient or responsible party.

(2) The number of direct care hours shall be determined according to the annual cost report submitted to the department by nursing facilities. The average number of direct care hours, as established by May 1, 1992, shall be calculated and incorporated into the home care limits on July 1, 1992. These limits shall be calculated to the nearest quarter hour.

(3) The home care rating shall be determined by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee based on information submitted to the commissioner by the county public health nurse on forms specified by the commissioner. The home care rating shall be a combination of current assessment tools developed under sections 256B.0911 and 256B.501 with an addition for seizure activity that will assess the frequency and severity of seizure activity and with adjustments, additions, and clarifications that are necessary to reflect the needs and conditions of recipients who need home care including children and adults under 65 years of age. The commissioner shall establish these forms and protocols under this section and sections 256B.0651, 256B.0653, 256B.0654, and 256B.0656 and shall use an advisory group, including representatives of recipients, providers, and counties, for consultation in establishing and revising the forms and protocols.

(4) A recipient shall qualify as having complex medical needs if the care required is difficult to perform and because of recipient's medical condition requires more time than community-based standards allow or requires more skill than would ordinarily be required and the recipient needs or has one or more of the following:

(A) daily tube feedings;

(B) daily parenteral therapy;

(C) wound or decubiti care;

(D) postural drainage, percussion, nebulizer treatments, suctioning, tracheotomy care, oxygen, mechanical ventilation;

(E) catheterization;

(F) ostomy care;

(G) quadriplegia; or

(H) other comparable medical conditions or treatments the commissioner determines would otherwise require institutional care.

(5) A recipient shall qualify as having Level I behavior if there is reasonable supporting evidence that the recipient exhibits, or that without supervision, observation, or redirection would exhibit, one or more of the following behaviors that cause, or have the potential to cause:

(A) injury to the recipient's own body;

(B) physical injury to other people; or

(C) destruction of property.

(6) Time authorized for personal care relating to Level I behavior in paragraph (5), clauses (A) to (C), shall be based on the predictability, frequency, and amount of intervention required.

(7) A recipient shall qualify as having Level II behavior if the recipient exhibits on a daily basis one or more of the following behaviors that interfere with the completion of personal care assistant services under subdivision 2, paragraph (a):

(A) unusual or repetitive habits;

(B) withdrawn behavior; or

(C) offensive behavior.

(8) A recipient with a home care rating of Level II behavior in paragraph (7), clauses (A) to (C), shall be rated as comparable to a recipient with complex medical needs under paragraph (4). If a recipient has both complex medical needs and Level II behavior, the home care rating shall be the next complex category up to the maximum rating under paragraph (1), clause (B).

Subd. 5. Shared personal care assistant services. (a) Medical assistance payments for shared personal care assistance services shall be limited according to this subdivision.

(b) Recipients of personal care assistant services may share staff and the commissioner shall provide a rate system for shared personal care assistant services. For two persons sharing services, the rate paid to a provider shall not exceed 1-1/2 times the rate paid for serving a single individual, and for three persons sharing services, the rate paid to a provider shall not exceed twice the rate paid for serving a single individual. These rates apply only to situations in which all recipients were present and received shared services on the date for which the service is billed. No more than three persons may receive shared services from a personal care assistant in a single setting.

(c) Shared service is the provision of personal care assistant services by a personal care assistant to two or three recipients at the same time and in the same setting. For the purposes of this subdivision, "setting" means:

(1) the home or foster care home of one of the individual recipients; or

(2) a child care program in which all recipients served by one personal care assistant are participating, which is licensed under chapter 245A or operated by a local school district or private school; or

(3) outside the home or foster care home of one of the recipients when normal life activities take the recipients outside the home.

The provisions of this subdivision do not apply when a personal care assistant is caring for multiple recipients in more than one setting.

(d) The recipient or the recipient's responsible party, in conjunction with the county public health nurse, shall determine:

(1) whether shared personal care assistant services is an appropriate option based on the individual needs and preferences of the recipient; and

(2) the amount of shared services allocated as part of the overall authorization of personal care assistant services.

The recipient or the responsible party, in conjunction with the supervising qualified professional, if a qualified professional is requested by any one of the recipients or responsible parties, shall arrange the setting and grouping of shared services based on the individual needs and preferences of the recipients. Decisions on the selection of recipients to share services must be based on the ages of the recipients, compatibility, and coordination of their care needs.

(e) The following items must be considered by the recipient or the responsible party and the supervising qualified professional, if a qualified professional has been requested by any one of the recipients or responsible parties, and documented in the recipient's health service record:

(1) the additional qualifications needed by the personal care assistant to provide care to several recipients in the same setting;

(2) the additional training and supervision needed by the personal care assistant to ensure that the needs of the recipient are met appropriately and safely. The provider must provide on-site supervision by a qualified professional within the first 14 days of shared services, and monthly thereafter, if supervision by a qualified provider has been requested by any one of the recipients or responsible parties;

(3) the setting in which the shared services will be provided;

(4) the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness and appropriateness of the service and process used to make changes in service or setting; and

(5) a contingency plan which accounts for absence of the recipient in a shared services setting due to illness or other circumstances and staffing contingencies.

(f) The provider must offer the recipient or the responsible party the option of shared or one-on-one personal care assistant services. The recipient or the responsible party can withdraw from participating in a shared services arrangement at any time.

(g) In addition to documentation requirements under Minnesota Rules, part 9505.2175, a personal care provider must meet documentation requirements for shared personal care assistant services and must document the following in the health service record for each individual recipient sharing services:

(1) permission by the recipient or the recipient's responsible party, if any, for the maximum number of shared services hours per week chosen by the recipient;

(2) permission by the recipient or the recipient's responsible party, if any, for personal care assistant services provided outside the recipient's residence;

(3) permission by the recipient or the recipient's responsible party, if any, for others to receive shared services in the recipient's residence;

(4) revocation by the recipient or the recipient's responsible party, if any, of the shared service authorization, or the shared service to be provided to others in the recipient's residence, or the shared service to be provided outside the recipient's residence;

(5) supervision of the shared personal care assistant services by the qualified professional, if a qualified professional is requested by one of the recipients or responsible parties, including the date, time of day, number of hours spent supervising the provision of shared services, whether the supervision was face-to-face or another method of supervision, changes in the recipient's condition, shared services scheduling issues and recommendations;

(6) documentation by the qualified professional, if a qualified professional is requested by one of the recipients or responsible parties, of telephone calls or other discussions with the personal care assistant regarding services being provided to the recipient who has requested the supervision; and

(7) daily documentation of the shared services provided by each identified personal care assistant including:

(i) the names of each recipient receiving shared services together;

(ii) the setting for the shared services, including the starting and ending times that the recipient received shared services; and

(iii) notes by the personal care assistant regarding changes in the recipient's condition, problems that may arise from the sharing of services, scheduling issues, care issues, and other notes as required by the qualified professional, if a qualified professional is requested by one of the recipients or responsible parties.

(h) Unless otherwise provided in this subdivision, all other statutory and regulatory provisions relating to personal care assistant services apply to shared services.

(i) In the event that supervision by a qualified professional has been requested by one or more recipients, but not by all of the recipients, the supervision duties of the qualified professional shall be limited to only those recipients who have requested the supervision.

Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to reduce the total number of hours authorized for an individual recipient.

Subd. 6. Flexible use option. (a) "Flexible use option" means the scheduled use of authorized hours of personal care assistant services, which vary within a service authorization period covering no more than six months, in order to more effectively meet the needs and schedule of the recipient. Authorized hours not used within the six-month period may not be carried over to another time period. The flexible use of personal care assistant hours for a six-month period must be prior authorized by the commissioner, based on a request submitted on a form approved by the commissioner. The request must include the assessment and the annual service plan prepared by the county public health nurse.

(b) The recipient or responsible party, together with the case manager, if the recipient has case management services, and the county public health nurse, shall determine whether flexible use is an appropriate option based on the needs, abilities, preferences, and history of service use of the recipient or responsible party, and if appropriate, must ensure that the allocation of hours covers the ongoing needs of the recipient over an entire year divided into two six-month periods of flexible use. A recipient who has terminated personal care assistant services before the end of the 12-month authorization period shall not receive additional hours upon reapplying during the same 12-month authorization period, except if a change in condition is documented. Services shall be prorated for the remainder of the 12-month authorization period based on earlier assessment.

(c) If prior authorized, recipients may use their approved hours flexibly within the service authorization period for medically necessary covered services specified in the assessment required in subdivision 1b and section 256B.0651, subdivision 1, paragraph (b). The flexible use of authorized hours does not increase the total amount of authorized hours available to a recipient as determined under subdivision 4. The commissioner shall not authorize additional personal care assistant services to supplement a service authorization that is exhausted before the end date under a flexible service use plan, unless the county public health nurse determines a change in condition and a need for increased services is established.

(d) The personal care provider organization and the recipient or responsible party or the personal care assistance choice provider must develop a written month-to-month plan of the projected use of personal care assistant services that is part of the care plan and ensures:

(1) that the health and safety needs of the recipient will be met;

(2) that the total annual authorization will not be used before the end of the authorization period; and

(3) monthly monitoring will be conducted of hours used as a percentage of the authorized amount.

(e) The provider shall notify the recipient or responsible party, any case manager for the recipient, and the county public health nurse in advance and as soon as possible, on a form approved by the commissioner, if the monthly amount of hours authorized is likely to be exceeded for the month.

(f) The commissioner shall provide written notice to the provider, the recipient or responsible party, any case manager for the recipient, and the county public health nurse, when a flexible use recipient exceeds the personal care assistant service authorization for the month by an amount determined by the commissioner. If the use of hours exceeds the monthly service authorization by the amount determined by the commissioner for two months during any three-month period, the commissioner shall notify the recipient and the county public health nurse that the flexible use authorization will be revoked beginning the following month. The revocation will not become effective if, within ten working days of the commissioner's notice of flexible use revocation, the county public health nurse requests prior authorization for an increase in the service authorization or continuation of the flexible use option, or the recipient appeals and assistance pending appeal is ordered. The commissioner shall determine whether to approve the increase and continued flexible use.

(g) The recipient or responsible party may stop the flexible use of hours by notifying the personal care provider organization or the personal care assistance choice provider and county public health nurse in writing.

(h) The recipient or responsible party may appeal the commissioner's action according to section 256.045. The denial or revocation of the flexible use option shall not affect the recipient's authorized level of personal care assistant services as determined under subdivision 4.

Subd. 7. Fiscal intermediary option. (a) The commissioner may allow a recipient of personal care assistant services to use a fiscal intermediary to assist the recipient in paying and accounting for medically necessary covered personal care assistant services authorized in subdivision 2 and within the payment parameters of subdivision 4. Unless otherwise provided in this subdivision, all other statutory and regulatory provisions relating to personal care assistant services apply to a recipient using the fiscal intermediary option.

(b) The recipient or responsible party shall:

(1) recruit, hire, and terminate a qualified professional, if a qualified professional is requested by the recipient or responsible party;

(2) verify and document the credentials of the qualified professional, if a qualified professional is requested by the recipient or responsible party;

(3) develop a service plan based on physician orders and public health nurse assessment with the assistance of a qualified professional, if a qualified professional is requested by the recipient or responsible party, that addresses the health and safety of the recipient;

(4) recruit, hire, and terminate the personal care assistant;

(5) orient and train the personal care assistant with assistance as needed from the qualified professional;

(6) supervise and evaluate the personal care assistant with assistance as needed from the recipient's physician or the qualified professional;

(7) monitor and verify in writing and report to the fiscal intermediary the number of hours worked by the personal care assistant and the qualified professional; and

(8) enter into a written agreement, as specified in paragraph (f).

(c) The duties of the fiscal intermediary shall be to:

(1) bill the medical assistance program for personal care assistant and qualified professional services;

(2) request and secure background checks on personal care assistants and qualified professionals according to chapter 245C;

(3) pay the personal care assistant and qualified professional based on actual hours of services provided;

(4) withhold and pay all applicable federal and state taxes;

(5) verify and keep records of hours worked by the personal care assistant and qualified professional;

(6) make the arrangements and pay unemployment insurance, taxes, workers' compensation, liability insurance, and other benefits, if any;

(7) enroll in the medical assistance program as a fiscal intermediary; and

(8) enter into a written agreement as specified in paragraph (f) before services are provided.

(d) The fiscal intermediary:

(1) may not be related to the recipient, qualified professional, or the personal care assistant;

(2) must ensure arm's-length transactions with the recipient and personal care assistant; and

(3) shall be considered a joint employer of the personal care assistant and qualified professional to the extent specified in this section and sections 256B.0651, 256B.0653, 256B.0654, and 256B.0656.

The fiscal intermediary or owners of the entity that provides fiscal intermediary services under this subdivision must pass a criminal background check.

(e) If the recipient or responsible party requests a qualified professional, the qualified professional providing assistance to the recipient shall meet the qualifications specified in section 256B.0625, subdivision 19c. The qualified professional shall assist the recipient in developing and revising a plan to meet the recipient's needs, as assessed by the public health nurse. In performing this function, the qualified professional must visit the recipient in the recipient's home at least once annually. The qualified professional must report any suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of the recipient to the appropriate authorities.

(f) The fiscal intermediary, recipient or responsible party, personal care assistant, and qualified professional shall enter into a written agreement before services are started. The agreement shall include:

(1) the duties of the recipient, qualified professional, personal care assistant, and fiscal agent based on paragraphs (a) to (e);

(2) the salary and benefits for the personal care assistant and the qualified professional;

(3) the administrative fee of the fiscal intermediary and services paid for with that fee, including background check fees;

(4) procedures to respond to billing or payment complaints; and

(5) procedures for hiring and terminating the personal care assistant and the qualified professional.

(g) The rates paid for personal care assistant services, shared care services, qualified professional services, and fiscal intermediary services under this subdivision shall be the same rates paid for personal care assistant services and qualified professional services under section 256B.0651, subdivision 2, respectively. Except for the administrative fee of the fiscal intermediary specified in paragraph (f), the remainder of the rates paid to the fiscal intermediary must be used to pay for the salary and benefits for the personal care assistant or the qualified professional.

(h) As part of the assessment defined in subdivision 1b, the following conditions must be met to use or continue use of a fiscal intermediary:

(1) the recipient must be able to direct the recipient's own care, or the responsible party for the recipient must be readily available to direct the care of the personal care assistant;

(2) the recipient or responsible party must be knowledgeable of the health care needs of the recipient and be able to effectively communicate those needs;

(3) a face-to-face assessment must be conducted by the local county public health nurse at least annually, or when there is a significant change in the recipient's condition or change in the need for personal care assistant services;

(4) recipients who choose to use the shared care option as specified in subdivision 5 must utilize the same fiscal intermediary; and

(5) parties must be in compliance with the written agreement specified in paragraph (f).

(i) The commissioner shall deny, revoke, or suspend the authorization to use the fiscal intermediary option if:

(1) it has been determined by the qualified professional or local county public health nurse that the use of this option jeopardizes the recipient's health and safety;

(2) the parties have failed to comply with the written agreement specified in paragraph (f); or

(3) the use of the option has led to abusive or fraudulent billing for personal care assistant services.

The recipient or responsible party may appeal the commissioner's action according to section 256.045. The denial, revocation, or suspension to use the fiscal intermediary option shall not affect the recipient's authorized level of personal care assistant services as determined in subdivision 4.

Subd. 8. Public health nurse assessment rate. (a) The reimbursement rates for public health nurse visits that relate to the provision of personal care services under this section and section 256B.0625, subdivision 19a, are:

(i) $210.50 for a face-to-face assessment visit;

(ii) $105.25 for each service update; and

(iii) $105.25 for each request for a temporary service increase.

(b) The rates specified in paragraph (a) must be adjusted to reflect provider rate increases for personal care assistant services that are approved by the legislature for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and subsequent fiscal years. Any requirements applied by the legislature to provider rate increases for personal care assistant services also apply to adjustments under this paragraph.

Subd. 9. Quality assurance plan. The commissioner shall establish a quality assurance plan for personal care assistant services that includes:

(1) performance-based provider agreements;

(2) meaningful consumer input, which may include consumer surveys, that measure the extent to which participants receive the services and supports described in the individual plan and participant satisfaction with such services and supports;

(3) ongoing monitoring of the health and well-being of consumers; and

(4) an ongoing public process for development, implementation, and review of the quality assurance plan.

Subd. 10. Oversight of enrolled providers. The commissioner may request from providers documentation of compliance with laws, rules, and policies governing the provision of personal care assistant services. A personal care assistant service provider must provide the requested documentation to the commissioner within ten business days of the request. Failure to provide information to demonstrate substantial compliance with laws, rules, or policies may result in suspension, denial, or termination of the provider agreement.

HIST: 1986 c 444; 1990 c 568 art 3 s 51; 1991 c 292 art 7 s 12,25; 1992 c 391 s 3-6; 1992 c 464 art 2 s 1; 1992 c 513 art 7 s 50; 1Sp1993 c 1 art 5 s 51-53; 1995 c 207 art 6 s 52-55; 1996 c 451 art 5 s 17-20; 1997 c 203 art 4 s 28,29; 3Sp1997 c 3 s 9; 1998 c 407 art 4 s 29-31; 1999 c 245 art 4 s 50-58; 2000 c 474 s 8-11; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 29-41; 2002 c 375 art 2 s 17; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 15 art 1 s 33; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 3 s 26-28; 2005 c 10 art 1 s 49,50; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 7 s 15-19

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes