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Project Abstract

Kitchener, M., Ng, T., Willmott, M., Harrington, C. (2006) The Arkansas Medicaid State Plan Personal Care Services Program. Center for Personal Assistance Services, University of California, San Francisco, CA.

Abstract

This case study of the Arkansas Medicaid state plan Personal Care Services (PCS) optional benefit program highlights four interesting features. First, the program is one of the oldest Medicaid state plan PCS programs in the nation. Over time, it has developed the capacity to serve more than 15,000 clients per year and the flexibility to adopt new practices including mandated provider training. Second, the Arkansas PCS program operates two policies that are generous when compared with PCS programs in other states: (1) the functional eligibility criterion (one ADL); and (2) the capacity to provide services outside the client’s home in the community. The maximum number of 64 service hours per month without prior authorization is, however, not generous when compared with similar programs in other states.

Third, the policy of agency-employed RNs conducting client assessments may reduce state costs to some extent and also may provide agencies with greater autonomy and control over client need assessment. Fourth, unlike many other PCS programs, Arkansas mandates all providers to be employed by agencies that are required to provide: (1) a 40 hour (initial) training program and (on-going) program, (2) 12 hours of in-service education per year, and (3) structured work supervision by RNs.

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