Q.	What is Self Direct Personal Assistance Services?
A.	SDPAS is a Medicaid funded program that is overseen by the State of Montana, Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation to provide non-medical, in-home support services to eligible individuals. The Self Direct Personal Assistance Services (SDPAS) program is available statewide through Progressive Personal Care. This Program provides help to functionally disabled or elderly Montanans. The services are typically provided in the consumer’s home by health care paraprofessionals called personal care assistants (PCA).
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Q.	What personal care services are provided?
A.	The services available under this program are designed to help with activities of daily living such as: bathing, dressing & grooming, toileting transferring, eating, and health maintenance tasks such as:tube feeding, wound care, bowel treatments, urinary system management, medication administration. Shopping assistance and meal preparation may be available in conjunction with another task listed above if assessment indicates a consumer lives alone and experiences a lack of supports and a need for the task.
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Q.	What are my responsibilities with the SDPAS program?
A.	As a consumer in the SDPAS program, your responsibilities include: participating with Progressive Personal Care in your service plan development. recruiting, training, scheduling and managing all attendants who will provide your personal care services. approving all service delivery records which will be submitted to Progressive personal Care. resolving any PCA issues which may arise. developing an emergency back-up plan. notifying Progressive Personal Care of any change in health condition, living situation or assistant issues.
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Q.	Can I still participate in this program even though I cannot manage my own care?
A.	You may formally choose a personal representative to manage your care.
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Q.	Can I hire a family member as my PCA?
A.	Yes. You may hire a family member (excluding your spouse and excluding a parent of a minor child) or you may hire a friend to work as your PCA.
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Q.	Is there a background check of Personal Care Attendants (PCA’s)?
A.	Yes. State criminal history background checks will be run on all PCA applicants.
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Q.	Who sets the PCA’s schedule?
A.	Together with the PCA, you are able to set and maintain a convenient and flexible schedule to meet your needs.
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Q.	How will my Personal Care Attendant (PCA) know about my needs?
A.	You can train your PCA to meet your specific personal care needs and goals.
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Q.	How can I become a PCA?
A.	If you would like to work as a PCA in this program, please contact Progressive Personal Care to find out about opportunities. If you have a consumer who wants you to work for them, then you and the consumer must contact Progressive personal Care. To qualify to work in this program, you will be asked to complete the application process that includes a State of Montana criminal history background check.
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Q.	What kind of administrative support does Progressive Personal Care provide?
A.	Progressive Personal Care provides administrative support to the consumer and to the PCA. This support includes payroll and Medicaid billing support for the PCA and training for the consumer in managing personal care.
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Q.	What training will be provided for the PCA?
A.	The consumer may decide what training, if any, they will require for their PCA.
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Q.	Who provides the training for my PCA?
A.	PPC.
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Q.	Is there medical supervision provided?
A.	In the SDPAS program, Progressive Personal Care does not provide RN or health medical supervision by any other health care provider.
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Q.	What are the responsibilities of Progressive Personal Care?
A.	Serving as liaison between the Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation and the consumer. Processing payroll for the PCA, including withholding taxes. Providing worker's compensation coverage and unemployment insurance. Providing consumer education on all SDPAS policies. Developing individual service plan with the consumer. Reviewing emergency backup, training, and recruitment plans. Providing resources to encourage self advocacy. Submitting and reviewing State of Montana criminal history background checks for PCA's.
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