STATE MAY ALLOW FAMILY PCAs

The Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance has released proposed regulations that would allow payment from MassHealth’s PCA program to certain family members for providing care to a relative. Currently those defined as a “family member” and therefore ineligible to receive such payment includes “a child, spouse parent, son-in-law or daughter-in-law”. Under the proposed rules parents of an adult MassHealth member, children and sons-in-law and daughters-in-law would become eligible. Only the spouse and parents of a minor child would be ineligible. It is anticipated that these amendments will not go into effect before March 1, 2006.

The comment period has closed. The Division may adopt a revised version of the proposed actions. Watch this space for further details.

-Adapted from DMA “NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF REGULATIONS”, January 2, 2006 from www.mass.gov/masshealth/proposedregs

01/2006