Quick Reference - Parents as Paid Caregivers

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PPCG - Parents as Paid Caregivers

To help families during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), AHCCCS worked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Together, they allowed parents to become Direct Care Workers (DCW) for their children who receive DDD benefits. This let Qualified Vendors hire parents and step- parents to become Direct Care Workers and provide needed services to their child. It was a temporary program during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023. AHCCCS extended this program under PHE guidelines until Nov. 11, 2023. AHCCCS published a letter on October 31, 2023. The letter had the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) approval of a temporary extension to the program. This allows the state to keep reimbursing parents for providing direct care to their minor children.

Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG) will continue as-is until March 29, 2024, or when CMS approves the application, which might be sooner. AHCCCS, CMS, and the Division will update families, Qualified Vendors, and DDD staff as more details become available.

How Parents Can Become Direct Care Workers (DCW)

A parent who wants to be a DCW must meet these qualifications:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have the following documents:
  
  • Proof of training in Article 9
  • Proof of training in CPR/ First Aid
  • Proof of completing DCW Training
  • Proof of training in the delivery of habilitation services
  • Proof that he/she sent a request for a fingerprint clearance card. A fingerprint clearance card is not needed if the parent is providing only Attendant Care and lives in the same home as the member
  • Background check approval from the Department of Child Safety (DCS) Central Registry and the Adult Protective Services (APS) Registry 
• Be trained on and follow the Qualified Vendor’s requirements.

Qualified Vendors can help a parent become a Direct Care Worker if their child needs Attendant Care or Habilitation-Hourly.