Cherish
A PCA / Independent Living / Home Management Agency
Cherish News for Program Recipients, Families and Staff
Cherish is looking for
employees in nearly all locations!
Contact Kalee
kalee@cherished1.co (218)263-9000
Cherish appreciates our
program participants and our staff.
This news is intended to bring to your attention information that
could help.
Wage and Benefit changes on 1/1/2024
For more information see http://cherished1.co/employment
&
For more information see Cherish policy on wages and conditions of employment
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
A Federal Law, the 21st Century Cures Act, Public
Law 114–255 (PDF), requires PCAs and other direct care staff
to USE EVV. EVV DOES NOT track locations throughout a visit.
A single location is collected at the start and the end of a visit
only. EVV is an attempt to prevent fraud by proving that a
staff person was with the program participant for time they are
billing. If you are submitting a missed time form, there is
no GPSS attached, and could be construed as an attempt to commit
fraud. Occasionally technical difficulties prevent a clock
in or out, this is the time an employee should complete a missed
time form.
*notice - EVV
is required for every provider in the USA. Missed time
sheets do not have the GPS stamp required by MN DHS and the
Federal Government. MN DHS tracks billing with missed GPS and
may prompt a fraud investigation by SIRS. Missed time sheets
should be the exception.
DHS Live In Caregiver EVV requirements
PCA to CFSS
As Minnesota
moves from PCA Services to CFSS over 2024
There will be some change.
DHS cannot provide a specific launch date for CFSS until CMS
approves, but will continue to provide updates as more information
becomes available. DHS will announce a CFSS launch date at least
90 days before that point.
People receiving PCA services will transition to CFSS at their yearly reassessment.
The first step will be for the person receiving services to meet with a consultation services provider who will provide education on the two CFSS service models and allow the person to chose which model that best fits their needs.
CFSS will have two service delivery models, the agency provider model and the budget model.
Cherish is an agency model provider. If you chose the agency model and keep Cherish as your trusted provider, not much will change and your current Support Workers will not need to reenroll with a new provider.
Each model offers different levels of responsibility for people who receive services.
Both models allow people the most control possible to select and
obtain services.
In both Models the Person directs their care, and has a say in
selecting their worker,
(including the person’s spouse, the parent of a minor or another
person who uses CFSS services),
may buy good and services by reducing the number of CFSS Support
worker hours they receive.
In the agency provider model, the person selects an agency that serves as their workers’ employer. This means the agencies will recruit, hire, train, supervise and pay CFSS support workers.
In the budget model, the person is the employer of their support workers. They will have a budget rather than service units. People who use the budget model will recruit, hire, train and supervise their support workers. The person will select a financial management services (FMS) provider to help the person with payroll and related costs and follow SEIU Union rules. They will not have a QP or Supervising Professional.
DHS contracted with 16 organizations to provide FMS in Minnesota:
DHS List of Consultation Providers
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Employee Sick and Safe Time (ESST) will begin to accrue at the rate of one hour per 30 hours worked. You may use time that you have accrued if you are sick, it is not Paid Time Off and it is not paid out when you leave Cherish. Your accrual caps at 48 hours. PCA Choice employees are not covered under this program because the Union Contract covers ESST requirements. Sick and safe time is paid leave employers must provide to employees in Minnesota that can be used for certain reasons, including when an employee is sick, to care for a sick family member or to seek assistance if an employee or their family member has experienced domestic abuse. https://www.dli.mn.gov/sick-leave We are assuming that on 1/1/2026 when the Paid Family and Medical Leave act begins through the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program begins, that the ESST program will end.
Sick and Safe Time Request Form (for direct care staff - not PCA Choice)
PTO Request Form for PCA Choice
We have been informed that the money has been spent for the retention bonus
You may qualify for a MN DHS retention bonus if
you have been working at Cherish for 2 or more years
Follow this link to apply>>>
https://www.theodysseygroup.com/retention bonuses
HCBS direct care workers and traditional PCA workers may apply for grant initiatives, including a retention bonus and PCA training stipend. The two initiatives are part of the Legislature-created HCBS grant developed to help attract new direct care workers and keep current employees who provide HCBS services to people with disabilities and older adults. Review the Apply for grant initiatives, including retention bonuses and training stipends AASD and DSD eList announcement for information about the retention bonus and training stipend, including application information. Refer to the HCBS Workforce Development Grant webpage for information about the grant initiatives and legislation.
Human Services Legislation https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/61/
Some issues that may affect you or those you serve:
Family Caregivers
Enhanced Waiver rates
Currently PCAs that work for a person receiving more than 10 hours per day of care earn an increased wage. To qualify for the increase the employee must take the DHS online training,
Have issues with pay or equity between PCA programs (PCA Choice has many more state paid benefits than PCA Traditional) - Contact your Minnesota Legislators and tell them you want equity:
Governor Walz https://mn.gov/governor/contact/
Governor Walz committed to make Minnesota an age friendly state and
announced a PCA wage increase but did not fund it.
Established November as Caregiver month. Contact
Governor Walz to ask for his fiscal support in increasing PCA
wages.
Contact DHS Commissioner Harperstead - she needs to hear from real people: jodi.harpstead@state.mn.us
IRS Notice 2014-7
If you Live with the person you are providing services for - you could qualify for an income tax exclusion
In January 2014, the IRS issued Notice 2014-7 stating that certain wages earned by employees providing services to individuals on a Medicaid Waiver can be excluded from federal income tax.
This applies to employees living full time in the home with the Medicaid waiver person they provide services to.
Taxes
Other assistance programs:
Minnesota benefits https://mnbenefits.mn.gov/#about-programs
Telephone and Internet assistance programs (mediacom is free): https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/telephone/
Child Care Assistance The Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Food Shelves https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/food_pantries_st__louis_county.html
Energy Assistance https://www.aeoa.org/energy-assistance-program
Minnesota Power Lower Rate Electricity https://www.mnpower.com/CustomerService/CAREProgram
Home Weatherization https://www.aeoa.org/weatherization
Home Rehabilitation https://www.aeoa.org/single-family-rehabilitation
Housing Repair Grants Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in Minnesota | Rural Development (usda.gov)
Home Ownership https://www.aeoa.org/homeownership
MNSURE Application Assistance https://www.aeoa.org/mnsure
Adult Education https://www.aeoa.org/adult-education
Social Security and Social Security Disabilty https://www.ssa.gov/
Veterans Benefits https://mn.gov/mdva/resources/
Veterans Health and Disability https://mn.gov/mdva/resources/healthdisability/
WIC https://redcap.health.state.mn.us/redcap/surveys/?s=4WCPLJL77MLKRPJ3
Bridge To Benefits http://bridgetobenefits.org/Find_Other_Help2
Help Me Connect https://helpmeconnect.web.health.state.mn.us/HelpMeConnect
Application for St Louis County benefits
https://www.stlouiscountymn.gov/departments-a-z/public-health-human-services/economic-services-supports/apply-for-cash-food-assistance