317:35-16-6. Agency State Plan Personal Care (SPPC) service authorization and monitoring

317:35-16-6.  Agency State Plan Personal Care (SPPC) service authorization and monitoring

[Revised 03-28-23]

(a) Within ten (10) business days of referral receipt for SPPC services, the personal care provider agency nurse completes an assessment of the member’s personal care service needs and completes and submits a person-centered plan based on the member’s needs to the OHCA nurse. The plan includes the:

(1) Adv/SPPC-Nurse Evaluation;

(2) SPPC-Service Planning; and

(3) SPPC Member Service Agreement.

(b) When more than one (1) person in the household is referred to receive SPPC or ADvantage services, all household members’ plans are discussed and developed with the eligible members so service delivery is coordinated to achieve the most efficient use of resources. The number of SPPC service units authorized for each individual is distributed between all eligible family members. This ensures one (1) family member’s absence does not adversely affect the family member(s) remaining in the home. When one (1) or more persons in the same household with a SPPC member is referred to or receives other formal services, such as ADvantage or Developmental Disability Services, then those services are coordinated as well.

(c) The personal care provider agency receives documentation from the OHCA nurse for authorization to begin services. The agency provides a copy of the plan to the member upon initiating services.

(d) Prior to the provider agency placing a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) in the member’s home or other service-delivery setting, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation background check, an Oklahoma State Department of Health Registry check, and an OKDHS Community Services Worker Registry check is completed per Sections 1-1944 through 1-1948 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Payment is made for PCAs who provide SPPC services and meet criteria Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 317:35-15-2(c) (1) through (8).

(e) The provider agency nurse monitors the member’s care plan.

(1) The personal care provider agency nurse or staff contacts the member within five (5) business days of authorized document receipt in order to ensure services are implemented according to the authorized care plan.

(2) The provider agency nurse makes a monitoring visit using the Adv/SPPC Nurse Evaluation at least every six (6) months to assess the member’s satisfaction with his or her care and to evaluate the care plan for adequacy of goals and authorized units. Whenever a monitoring visit is made, the provider agency nurse documents findings in the electronic system. The provider agency submits monitoring documentation to OHCA nurse for review within five (5) business days of the visit. A registered nurse (RN) conducts the monitoring visit when the PCA is performing  hands-on personal care. A licensed practical nurse may only conduct the monitoring visit when the PCA is not performing hands-on personal care. An RN also co-signs the progress notes.

(3) The provider agency nurse’s requests to change the number of authorized units in the SPPC plan are submitted via the electronic system to the OHCA nurse to approve or deny prior to changed number of authorized units implementation.

(4) Annually, or more frequently when the member’s needs change, the provider agency nurse re-assesses the member’s needs and develops a new plan to meet the member’s needs. The provider agency nurse completes and submits the annual reassessment documents to the OHCA nurse no sooner than sixty (60) calendar days before the existing service plan end-date, and no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to service.

(5) When the member is unstaffed, the provider agency nurse  or staff communicates with the member and makes efforts to re-staff. When consecutively unstaffed for seven (7) calendar days, or fewer depending on the member’s needs, the provider agency nurse or staff contacts the unstaffed member weekly by phone to actively monitor the member’s health and safety and documents ongoing efforts to provide staff using the electronic system. When the member is unstaffed for thirty (30) days, the provider agency notifies the OHCA nurse. The OHCA nurse contacts the member and when the member chooses, initiates a member transfer to another provider agency that can provide staff.

Disclaimer. The OHCA rules found on this Web site are unofficial. The official rules are published by the Oklahoma Secretary of State Office of Administrative Rules as Title 317 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code. To order an official copy of these rules, contact the Office of Administrative Rules at (405) 521-4911.