Medical Assistance
Personal Care Program

What is the Medical Assistance Personal Care Program?

This Program provides in home assistance with activities of daily living to Medicaid Recipients who have a chronic illness, disability, or medical condition. This may include:

• Feeding
• Dressing
• Bathing
• Toileting
• Personal Hygiene & grooming
• Meal preparation
• Mobility, including transferring from place to place
• Household services related to medical needs

How are individuals assessed for the program?

A local health department registered nurse case monitor will perform an assessment of the recipients personal care needs. If the needs can be met by the program, the nurse will assist the recipient to locate a personal care provider.

How does the program work?

A personal care provider will come into the recipients' homes to help with activities of daily living. A Personal Care Provider may not be a member of the recipient's immediate family, but may be a friend or neighbor.

A registered nurse case monitor will plan the care given. The client will be required to visit their primary care physician every six months to stay enrolled in the program.

The registered nurse case monitor will make home visits to check on the patient and to evaluate the plan of care.

Who can apply and how do I apply for the Personal Care Program?

The Personal Care Program may be able to help. If you or someone you know:

• Is chronically ill, disabled or has a medical condition
• Is under a physicians care
• Needs help with simple activities of daily living
• Is eligible for Medical Assistance
• Lives in Allegany County

Contact the Personal Care Program at (301) 759-5089.

How can I apply to become a Personal Care Provider?

Applications to become an approved personal care provider in the Medical Assistance Personal Care Program are available at the health department and by downloading the form here.

To become a provider, applicants:

• must be at least 18 years old
• must be someone other than a family member of the recipient
• must be acceptable to the recipient
• must be able to read, write, and follow directions in English
• must have been determined by the case monitor as able to understand and carry out the plan of personal care
• must be certified by a physician within six months of the application as being physically and mentally able to perform the required duties
• must be willing to submit to a criminal background check as conducted by the Criminal Justice Information System
• must have a Personal Care Services Agreement in effect for every recipient for whom the provider is rendering services
• must comply with applicable Federal and State laws, regulation, transmittals and guidelines.

If interested in becoming a Medical Assistance Personal Care Provider, please contact the Allegany County Health Department at (301) 759-5089 for an application or download the form here and email it to pmckenzie@dhmh.state.md.us.

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