What Is Family Hire?
With Family Hire, the Medicaid member receives traditional in-home personal care services from non-related CNAs and PCAs, but family members are also allowed to work as the personal care aide.
To be eligible to be paid as a Family Hire employee, you must follow the same procedures required of non-related home care workers, including, completing a full background check, passing a Personal Care Aide (PCA) exam, TB screening, CPR/First Aid certification, and any other requirements mandated by the State of Georgia. Family Caregivers working under Family Hire are required to clock in and out of prescheduled “visits” or shifts. One potential benefit of Family Hire over Structured Family Caregiver (SFC) is that other caregivers can continue to work with the care recipient, whereas with SFC, only one primary caregiver can be designated at a time. To view other differences between SFC and Family Hire, click here.
Family Hire Eligibility Criteria
First review the Medicaid Member Eligibility and then click the Caregiver Eligibility tab to read which caregivers are eligible to participate.
To qualify for Family Hire, the Medicaid Member must already be approved to receive home care services under a Medicaid Waiver.
Family Hire Rules By Program
SOURCE, CCSP, or ICWP: Medicaid members receiving home care services under SOURCE, CCSP or ICWP may utilize qualified family hire caregivers in addition to non-related caregivers. View the Caregiver Eligibility section for the requirements.
– CCSP members must pay monthly Cost Share, if assessed one due to higher income.
NOW, COMP: Medicaid members approved for NOW or COMP home care services under Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) program may utilize Family Hire on a case by case basis. Each Family Hire caregiver must be approved by the Medicaid member’s DBHDD Region, and the caregiver’s approval must be reviewed and renewed annually.
In order for a family caregiver to be approved, the family must be able to show a hardship in finding eligible non-related caregivers who can perform the required duties. In addition to required approval from DBHDD, the family caregiver must also meet the requirements outlined in the Caregiver Eligibility section.
What If I’m Already Receiving Services With Another Provider?
If you are already receiving home care services through another home care provider, you must contact your (or your family member’s) Case Manager and request to switch to Caring Hands United Inc. At that point, the Case Manager will contact us to initiate services.
Family Hire caregiver(s) must be biologically or legally related to the individual receiving care. However, a spouse, legal guardian, parent of a minor child or conservator is not eligible to be the structured family caregiver.
Family Hire caregiver(s) must meet the same requirements of non-related home care workers.
The following guidelines / requirements apply:
- Caregiver must be at least 18 years of age
- Must complete employment application
- Must pass a criminal background check
- Must get TB screening annually
- Must maintain active CPR / First Aid certification
- Must Pass Personal Care Aide (PCA) exam**
- Must follow the Medicaid member’s care plan and schedule
- Must clock in and out of every assigned shift on time at the member’s home or preauthorized location
- Must complete 8 hours of training annually
- Performance evaluations done annually
** Caring Hands United provides FREE PCA training for qualified individuals.
