COVID Resources for Personal Care Attendants and PCA Consumers

by | Nov 16, 2020 | News | 0 comments

If you are taking part in MassHealth’s Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program, whether you’re working as a personal care attendant or you’re a consumer enrolled in the service, there are several resources available to you that have been established in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Obtaining Personal Protective Equipment

The 1199SEIU PCA Union PCA Union is offering mask and gloves for PCAs, which can be requested online at www.bit.ly/ppe1199 (English) or www.bit.ly/ppe1199spanish (Spanish). This supply of personal protective equipment is intended for PCAs working as part of the MassHealth PCA Program.

 

Provider Support Line

There is a new Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Provider Support Line, which is intended for consumers who receive MassHealth PCA Services and who have received a positive COVID-19 test or a presumptive diagnosis. Through this support line, consumers or their representatives can request personal protective equipment if they have a documented case of COVID-19 or a presumptive diagnosis by a physician or nurse practitioner.

To request PPE, consumers or their representatives can contact:

 

Durable Medical Equipment

MassHealth can provide non-sterile gloves (one box of 100, four boxes a month) through the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) program when universal precautions are necessary during personal care. No prior authorization is needed unless you require more than four boxes. Click here for a list of providers.

There are two ways eligible MassHealth Members can get non-sterile gloves through their Durable Medical Equipment benefit:

  1. MassHealth Members can contact their health care provider to initiate a DME order with the provider of their choice. The prescribing provider will need to provide the DME provider with a completed prescription and additional documentation demonstrating medical necessity.
  2. MassHealth Members can contact a MassHealth DME provider of their choice to initiate a DME order. Your health care provider will need to provide the DME provider with a completed prescription and additional documentation demonstrating medical necessity.

 

For more information about MassHealth’s response to COVID-19, or for additional support, please contact the Customer Service Center at 800-841-2900 / TTY: 800-497- 4648, or visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/masshealth-member-info-accessing-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-0/download