Break-Thru has changed the office hours!

We will be open from 10:00 am- 5:00 pm Monday-Thursday & 10:00 am- 3:00 pm on Friday.

PCAs will be able to pick up their paychecks every other Friday                      from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm.

Please make note of this change!  If you have any questions please call 763-502-1505.  Current PCAs & clients can call the on-call phone for after-hour supports.

Thank you for your understanding!

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has begun sending out notices to clients who can expect that their PCA services will be ending, effective July 01, 2011.  In the last legislative session, changes were made to the PCA program which are affecting many in the disability community, including clients, PCAs and providers.

Effective July 01st, 2011,  recipients of PCA services must have a need for at least two activities of daily living (ADL); these supports must be provided by the PCA from start to finish of each task.  In addition to the ADL changes, individuals who were receiving PCA supports who only had a dependency for behavioral supports, will also be given notice that they no longer qualify for PCA services.

Clients will be contacted between April and September to coordinate an early face to face reassessment.  These assessments will take place between June 01st and November 30th, 2011.

• ADLs include: bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, mobility, toileting and transferring.

If you are determined ineligible for PCA services, you will be given a 30 day notice to end your services.  You do have the right to appeal that determination; however, you must also be able to demonstrate that you do have a need for at least two activities of daily living in your appeal.   It is highly recommended that you reach out to your health care professionals for documentation of your need for continued PCA services.

Click here for:Information to assist you with an appeal

If you receive a letter of ineligibility or significant reduction, please contact our office immediately.  We have resources for you to prepare for this early reassessment and help you identify some alternatives that you may be eligible for.

Please see below for statistics on who will be most impacted by the changes made to the PCA program:

2,154 persons under age 65 at risk of termination under 2 ADLs/No Level 1 behavior criteria through September 1, 2010.

• Group A: 849 people with no ADL dependency but with Level 1 Behavior

41% persons of color; 67% under age 18; 86% diagnosis in mental disorder category; 8% with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; 16% receive adoption assistance

• Group B:   717 People: One ADL dependency, no Level 1 Behavior

14% under age 18; 66% persons of color; 16% diagnosis in mental disorder category

• Group C:  588 people: 1 ADL dependency, Level 1 Behavior

65% under age 18; 47% persons of color; 76% diagnosis in mental disorder category

Each Tuesday between Jan 18th and May 10th 2011, MN-CCD (Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities) will be at the Capitol to help people share their stories about the importance of disability services with legislators and to ensure there is a disability community presence at the Capitol.

A briefing led by MN-CCD grassroots leaders will be held in the cafeteria of the State Office Building at 10:00 am each Tuesday, followed by meetings with legislators and opportunities to attend hearings. More information can be found here.

Please email asimons@arcmn.org if you are interested in attending a Tuesday at the Capitol, and/or if your organization is interested in “hosting” a Tuesday.

DHS requires all PCAs to complete on-line standardized training in order to continue to provide PCA services and/or register for an individual PCA provider number.

We are so PROUD of our PCAs for successfully completing the state test and receiving their certificates! Congratulations on your professional development!

Break-Thru requires that any new employee  complete the test and provide proof of certification before a conditional offer will be made.

PCAs can go through the study guide that is available to them on-line and then take the test, or they have the option of taking the test without reviewing the study materials.  We strongly encourage PCAs to carefully review the study materials as they contain helpful information to reduce the risk of work-related injuries, inform you of your rights as an employee and provides you with information to ensure you know what is expected of you as a PCA as well as the consequences that result from not doing your job as expected.

You will need to register here to view the materials and take the test: http://registrations.dhs.state.mn.us/videoConf/Default.aspx?BusinessUnitID=16

Once you have completed the test, please forward your certification notice to: hwarfield@breakthrucare.com (please put “PCA Certificate” in the subject line)

If you do not have access to a computer with internet access, please call our office at 763.502.1505 to reserve time to use our PCA work station.

If you will need any accommodations with taking the test or using the computer, please let us know when you call.