Dan, I work for the IL Center here in Phoenix, and also have my caregiver through the IL Center, or CIL, as we call it. A similar thing has occurred here, but I don't think you can blame the CIL. Let me explain.
CILs are non-profit organizations, federally mandated by the Rehab Act of 1973. As such, they simply don't have the funds to pay for attendant care, housing, etc. What happens is that states contract with CILs to run/manage attendant care programs, so the money is really "pass through." In the case of ABIL, where I work, the state of AZ medicaid program pays us to train, manage and payroll about 1,500 personal care attendants. We keep a small amount for running the program, but most of the money simply goes from Medicaid, through us, to attendants. Since it's really Medicaid (taxpayer) money, they (Medicaid) call the shots on everything from training to time sheets, NOT the CIL. Since this is, again, taxpayer money, and also government bureaucracy, there is a great need for documentation and verification. The government likes everything in triplicate, as you know. But, in some ways you can't blame them. People are screaming for government agencies to reduce cost and fraud. Your timecard example was a case-in-point: you used to simply write Susan worked 20 hours, sign it, and get paid. Well, who's to say Susan actually worked 20 hours? I'm not accusing you, Dan, but there are plenty of people out there submitting fraudulent hours and worse. Add to that frivolous lawsuits by people who want a fast buck and you have the current situation. I can't speak for your local CIL, but I'd bet the above situation applies to them too. If your local CIL is not fighting to keep people in home care situations, they are not worth their salt. Keep advocating for your needs and rights! Don C5-6 Tempe, AZ On May 2, 2012, at 2:15 PM, Dan <[email protected]> wrote: > How many of you hirer PCAs? My state used to have an excellent independent > living center. It was one of the first in the nation. Sadly, over the years > it has deteriorated into what I call a non-Independent living Center. When I > first started, I made the rules. I decided how many hours of help, I needed > per day. Once the dollars were approved by the state. I was on my own. > > Now, the bureaucrats have taken over. What used to be a one-page sign up for > a new PCA has now turned into 15! They have to have background checks, > medical checks, references, a waiting time. The timesheets that I use to fill > out were very simple -- Jill Smith worked 20 hours this week. Jill signs - I > sign. > > Now we have to follow -- at least we're supposed to -- a voluminous book full > of rules and regulations. Everything from what you can and cannot wear to the > proper body mechanics of lifting to Mandatory meetings, to Defensive driving, > etc. etc. > > How can they call themselves an independent living center? There is nothing > independent about this. > > Has any of this happened to your independent living center? > > Dan >
