Commission members seek clarity after MassHealth changes PCA background-check rules
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Summary
Members said MassHealth now requires criminal and sexual-offense checks for personal care attendants and raised the PCA minimum age to 16; commission members said it was unclear which entity (Tempus or PCM agencies) is responsible for performing the checks, raising concerns about potential program disruption.
During the Jan. 13 meeting, commission members discussed recent changes they said were made to MassHealth requirements for personal care attendants (PCAs).
A member reported that MassHealth now requires criminal and sexual-offense background checks for PCAs and that the minimum PCA age has changed from 14 to 16. Members said agencies and users are unsure who is responsible for completing the checks: "Tempus was saying they thought that the PCM agency is supposed to do it, and then the PCM agency was saying, no," one member said, summarizing the confusion.
Commissioners warned that if background checks are not arranged promptly, PCA programs could be disrupted and service continuity threatened. One member urged the commission to contact state agencies and unions for clarification and to identify resources to help individuals who would otherwise pay for checks out of pocket.
Why this matters: background checks and age limits affect who can be hired as a PCA and whether existing PCAs remain eligible. Commission members said unclear implementation could force individuals to shoulder upfront costs or interrupt services for people who depend on PCAs.
Next steps: commissioners asked staff to seek clarification from MassHealth and related agencies or vendors (including Tempus and PCM agencies) about responsibilities, funding for checks, and transitional arrangements. The item will be followed up at a future meeting.
