NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Consumer Notice of Direct Care Worker Status

[40 Pa.B. 757]
[Saturday, February 6, 2010]

This form is to be completed by every consumer utilizing the services of a Home Care Agency or Home Care Registry which is licensed under
28 Pa. Code, Chapter 611, Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries

 The regulations governing licensure for home care agencies (HCAs) and home care registries (HCRs) have been published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin at Volume 39, Number 49, page 6958, effective December 12, 2009.

 HCAs and HCRs, as defined in the regulations, must now be licensed by the Department of Health (Department) to provide home care services to individuals in their homes or other independent living environments.

 Home care services include:

 • Assistance with self-administered medications;

 • Personal care such as assistance with personal hygiene, dressing and feeding;

 • Homemaking such as assistance with household tasks housekeeping, shopping, meal planning and preparation and transportation;

 • Companionship;

 • Respite care such as assistance and support provided to the family; and

 • Other non-skilled services.

 The licensure regulations, at 28 Pa. Code § 611.57, require an HCA or HCR, prior to the commencement of home care services, to provide to the consumer, the consumer's legal representative or responsible family member an information packet containing, among other items, a disclosure in the format to be provided by the Department, addressing the employee or independent contractor status of the direct care worker providing services to the consumer, and the resultant respective tax and insurance obligations and other responsibilities of the consumer and the HCA or HCR.

 All entities or organizations applying for licensure as an HCR or HCA shall begin using the following Consumer Notice of Direct Care Worker Status upon receipt of a license to operate an HCR or HCA.

 Existing HCAs and HCRs, currently operating under 28 Pa. Code § 611.2(c), shall begin using the Consumer Notice of Direct Care Worker Status within 60 days of the date of this notice.

 Individuals who have any questions or would like more information regarding home care agencies, home care registries and/or the HCA/HCR licensure program, contact the Division of Home Health at (717) 783-1379.

 Persons with a disability who require an alternative format of this Notice (for example, large print, audiotape, Braille) should contact Janice Staloski, Director, Bureau of Community Program Licensure and Certification, 132 Kline Plaza, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA 17104, (717) 783-8665, or for speech and/or hearing impaired persons V/TT (717) 783-6514, or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Services at (800) 654-5984.

Consumer Notice of Direct Care Worker Status

This form is to be completed by every consumer utilizing the services of a Home Care Agency or Home Care Registry

 I _________________ understand that:       (PRINT NAME)

_____ The direct care worker who will be providing Initials services in my home is an employee of [Name of Agency]. [Name of agency] is responsible for withholding and reporting State and Federal Income tax, Federal Unemployment tax, Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes on behalf of the direct care worker. [Name of Agency] is also responsible for paying workers compensation insurance to cover the direct care worker in the event of an accident or injury on the job.

_____ The direct care worker who will be providing Initials services in my home is not an employee of [Name of Registry], and therefore, may be considered my employee. Since the direct care worker may be my employee, I may be responsible for withholding and reporting State and Federal Income tax, Federal Unemployment tax, Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes on behalf of the direct care worker. I also understand that the direct care worker is not covered by Worker's Compensation Insurance.

_____ I have been informed that [Name of Agency or Initials Registry] ____ maintains ____ does not maintain general and professional liability insurance covering the direct care worker. If [Name of Agency or Registry] does not maintain general and professional liability insurance, and the direct care worker is not covered under workers compensation, I have been advised to check my homeowner's or renter's insurance to determine if it covers any injury or accident involving the direct care worker while working in my home.

_________________	______
Signature of Consumer or Consumer's  Representative	Date
_________________	______
Signature of Representative of (Name of  Agency/Registry)	Date

EVERETTE JAMES, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 10-234. Filed for public inspection February 5, 2010, 9:00 a.m.]

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