The new minimum wage will impact IHSS provider rates.  The minimum wage for all industries will go up to $9.00 effective July 1, 2014, and to $10.00 per hour after January 1, 2016.Counties with an IHSS provider wage less than $9.00 per hour will be required to submit a PA Rate Change Request. The county Board of Supervisors approval will not be required for the minimum wage increase unless it is for a rate above the $9.00 per hour wage, or provides for an increase in the other components (i.e., payroll taxes, health benefits, or administrative costs).  [Download]

Info on how to become certified by CDSS as a Qualified Agency to be able to contract. Qualified Agencies may provide IHSS to recipient who: 1) have been determined to be unable to function as the employer of the provider due to dementia, cognitive impairment, or other similar issues; 2) have been identified to need services under contract mode by the care coordination team ; or 3) are unable to retain a provider due to geographical isolation and distance, authorized hours, or other reasons. When a recipient who is severely impaired, is referred to a Qualified Agency, the Qualified Agency may provide emergency backup services, as needed, when a provider is unavailable due to vacation, illness, or other extraordinary circumstances, or the recipient is in the process of hiring or replacing a provider.  [Download]

WIC Section 12330 required that DSS meet with stakeholders to develop a voluntary IHSS provider training “that addresses issues of consistency, accountability, and increased quality of care.”  This Notice releases the training, which is a compilation of training resources that include 15 topics and a variety of subtopics. [Download]

County instructions to meet the requirement for an annual IHSS Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) Plan.  The state will be issuing instructions later on the creation of a County Policy and Procedures site, where the “static” plan components set out in ACIN No. I-64-05 will be maintained.  Counties no longer need to report annually on these components.   [Download]

IHSS Minor Recipients Living with Parents, ORD No. 0113-01
The public comment period for this package will close on December 4, 2013 at 5:00 pm.

IHSS Health Care Certification, ORD No. 1212-09
The public comment period for this package will close on December 4, 2013 at 5:00 pm.

Announcing the availability of Webinars and classroom training for county IHSS program integrity staff to provide training and technical assistance to implement the Statewide Protocols for IHSS Program Integrity Activities (fraud home visits).  For staff only, part of the training required by the protocols. [Download]