How to Switch Home Care Agencies in Pennsylvania (and Keep Your Caregiver)
How to Switch Home Care Agencies in Pennsylvania (and Keep Your Caregiver)
Short answer: To switch your Pennsylvania home care agency, the waiver participant tells their Community HealthChoices service coordinator. The participant chooses their provider. The caregiver then applies to the new agency so both move together.
- Waiver participants control their care and choose their provider through their service coordinator.
- Switching agencies requires the caregiver to apply and meet state hiring rules at the new agency.
- PAS hours are set in the service plan, not by the agency, so changing agencies does not by itself change them.
- You can also change your CHC health plan at any time through the Independent Enrollment Broker.
- Coordinate the transition date closely with your service coordinator to avoid any gap in care.
Who Decides on the Provider?
Under the Community HealthChoices (CHC) program, the participant chooses which agency delivers their care. The agency or the caregiver cannot move the case alone.
If you receive long-term services and supports through the CHC waiver, your Personal Assistance Services are based on a person-centered service plan. This plan sets which services you receive and how often you receive them. Covered services can include help with activities of daily living, non-medical transportation, adult day health, respite care, and home adaptations.
Because the participant controls the person-centered service plan, you have the right to request a different provider for your Personal Assistance Services. The approved hours belong to the participant, not the home care agency.
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Home Care Agency
Transferring your care to a new provider involves coordinating with your CHC service coordinator and ensuring your caregiver meets state employment rules at the new agency. Follow these steps to make the change:
- Tell your service coordinator: The participant (or their authorized representative) contacts their CHC service coordinator and states they want New Century Home Care to provide their Personal Assistance Services.
- Your caregiver applies to the new agency: Your family caregiver must apply to New Century and complete all caregiver hiring requirements mandated by Pennsylvania law. This includes an interview, providing at least two satisfactory references from non-relatives, passing a criminal history report, and completing a tuberculosis (TB) screening before consumer contact. Caregivers must also demonstrate competency by passing an exam or completing a training program covering topics like infection control, bathing, transferring, and recognizing abuse.
- The coordinator updates the service plan: Once the new agency confirms they can accept the case, the service coordinator updates the person-centered service plan and sends the official authorization to the new provider.
- Agree on a start date: The participant, the new agency, and the service coordinator agree on a specific start date so there is no gap in care. Always confirm the exact start date directly with your coordinator.
- The old agency stops services: The previous home care agency stops providing services on the agreed-upon transition date.
Ready to make the switch? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or contact us online. If you are a caregiver bringing a loved one, select “I am a caregiver” and “I already have a client” on our form. If you are a participant, choose “I am a client” and “already have services.”
Switching CHC Plans is a Different Process
Changing your home care agency is not the same as changing your CHC health plan. Pennsylvania Medicaid managed care offers three CHC plans in the Southeast zone: Keystone First CHC (the AmeriHealth Caritas brand in Philadelphia), UPMC Community HealthChoices, and Pennsylvania Health & Wellness.
Participants can switch their CHC plan at any time. You do this by visiting www.enrollchc.com or contacting the Independent Enrollment Broker. If you do not choose a plan, the state will auto-assign one to you. If you are not yet in the system, you must first apply for the waiver program through the Independent Enrollment Broker.
If you decide to change your CHC health plan, check that your new home care agency can serve that plan. Call us to confirm coverage. New Century Home Care currently works with Keystone First and AmeriHealth Caritas.
Your Rights During an Agency Transfer
Under Pennsylvania law (28 Pa. Code Chapter 611), consumers have specific rights when receiving home care services. You have the right to be involved in your service planning at all times.
You also have the right to receive at least 10 calendar days’ written notice before an agency terminates your services, with limited exceptions. Furthermore, no one affiliated with the home care agency may assume Power of Attorney (POA) or guardianship over a consumer of that agency. These rules exist to protect your rights as a consumer, though they are not the mechanism you use to switch agencies.
What to Have Ready for the Switch
To keep the process moving, gather the necessary documents before contacting your service coordinator. You will need the participant’s CHC plan name and member ID, as well as the service coordinator’s name and phone number. You should also know your current approved hours.
Your caregiver will need to provide identification and employment documents to the new agency. Under Pennsylvania regulations, the agency must obtain a criminal history report within one year prior to employment. If the caregiver has lived in Pennsylvania for the two preceding years, a PA State Police record is required. Otherwise, they need a federal FBI record and a PA Department of Aging letter of determination.
Caregivers must prove their residency status using documents such as a driver’s license, state ID, mortgage or rent receipts, utility bills, local tax records, or a tax return. The agency may also utilize a provisional hire period of up to 30 days for two-year PA residents (or 90 days for others) while waiting for background checks, provided the caregiver’s competency is met and monitored.
Why Families Move to New Century Home Care
New Century Home Care is a non-medical home care agency located at 101 E Olney Ave #270, Philadelphia, PA 19120. We are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and operate as an Office of Long Term Living (OLTL) provider. We serve Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties.
If your caregiver is a relative, read how paid family caregiving works in Pennsylvania. Our services: companion care, personal care, homemaker services, mobility assistance, and respite care. We also offer specialized support for dementia/Alzheimer’s, post-surgery, Parkinson’s, stroke recovery, and chronic disease. Our office staff speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Caregiver benefits: weekly pay, direct deposit, paid sick days, paid vacation or extra pay, holiday pay, and a $350 signing bonus. Caregivers also have access to a free health insurance plan, free life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan.
To transfer your services and caregiver to New Century Home Care, call 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form. Select “I am a client” and “already have services” if you are the participant, or “I am a caregiver” and “I already have a client” if you are the worker.
Frequently asked questions
Can you switch home health care companies in PA?
Yes. As a waiver participant, you have the right to choose your provider. You simply need to inform your Community HealthChoices service coordinator that you want to transfer your services to a different agency.
Will we lose hours if we switch?
No. Your approved Personal Assistance Services hours belong to your person-centered service plan, not to the home care agency. Changing agencies does not by itself change them; the coordinator moves the authorization to the new provider. Confirm the details with your coordinator.
Can my caregiver come with me?
Yes. Your current family caregiver can apply to the new agency. Once they pass the state-mandated background checks, TB screening, and competency requirements, they can continue working with you.
Does the old agency have to agree?
No. The participant controls who provides their care. You do not need permission from your old agency to leave, though you should confirm the transfer dates with your service coordinator to ensure smooth coordination.
How long does a switch take?
The timeline depends on how quickly your caregiver completes the hiring process at the new agency and when your service coordinator updates the authorization. Always confirm the exact start date with your coordinator.
Can I switch CHC plans too?
Yes. You can change your Community HealthChoices health plan at any time by contacting the Independent Enrollment Broker. Check with your new agency to ensure they work with the health plan you select.
Get paid through Medicaid CHC as a New Century caregiver. Weekly pay, $350 signing bonus, free health insurance plan available. Call 215-974-0000.
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