Personal care assistance

Services

PCA covers these four basic categories of services:

• Activities of daily living (ADLs): Activities a person needs to carry out on a daily basis to remain healthy and safe. The covered ADLs are dressing, grooming, bathing, eating, positioning, transfers and mobility.
• Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs): Activates a person needs to carry out on a regular basis to remain independent. Examples include shopping, paying bills and meal preparation.
• Health-related procedures and tasks: Tasks such as supporting a person with self-administered medications or help with range of motion exercises.
• Observation and redirection of behaviors: Monitoring a person’s behaviors and redirecting them to more positive behaviors when needed.

Eligibility

To be eligible for PCA, a person must:

• Live in the community and not a facility, such as a hospital or nursing home.
• Be able to direct care or have a representative who can direct care on their behalf.
• Be enrolled in one of Minnesota’s health care programs (Medical Assistance, MA waiver/Alternative Care). Some people on Minnesota Care are also eligible.
• Have an assessment that determines they are eligible.

The person’s county, tribal nation or managed care organization conducts the assessment.

Options

All people who use PCA select from two service options, traditional PCA and PCA choice.

Similarities

In both options:

• The person selects a PCA provider agency.
• The person directs their services.
• The person has a say in who their PCA worker is.

Differences

In traditional PCA, the agency is responsible for all employment-related tasks. In PCA Choice, the person is responsible for some employment-related activities:

• Recruiting
• Hiring
• Training
• Supervising
• Scheduling
• Arranging for backup workers.

New

Beginning Oct. 1, 2024, spouses and parents of minors may be paid to provide PCA services.

Access

A person’s lead agency (their county, tribal nation or managed care organization) must conduct an assessment to determine if the person is eligible. The lead agency assessor will discuss the person’s service options with them at the time of the assessment.

A person may choose a provider agency from a list they might receive at their PCA assessment. Lists are also available at MinnesotaHelp.info or from the Disability Hub MN, 866-333-2466, or the Senior LinkAge Line, 800-333-2433.

CFSS

DHS is in the process of transitioning the PCA program into Community First Services and Supports (CFSS). For more information, see the Community First Services and Supports webpage.

FAQ

For the answers to frequently asked questions about personal care assistance, visit the Frequently asked questions about personal care assistance webpage.

Resources

PCA Choice

People who use PCA Choice recruit their own workers.

People who use PCA Choice may consult the Recruitment and retention in supports for Minnesotans with disabilities (PDF).

Enhanced rate

Some PCA work is eligible for an enhanced rate. For more information, see the Enhanced rates or budgets and training stipends for support workers webpage.

Appeals

A person may appeal the results of their assessment using the Appeal to State Agency form, DHS-0033.

Maltreatment

All PCAs and PCA agency staff are legally required to report suspected maltreatment. Report suspected maltreatment of adults using the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center mandated reporter form. Report suspected maltreatment of children by contacting the child’s county or tribal nation: Contact us: Minnesota's county and tribal child protection agencies.

Report suspected fraud in the PCA program by visiting the Office of the inspector general's Report fraud webpage.