PCA vs. CFSS: What's changing in Minnesota

For decades, Personal Care Assistance (PCA) has been the main program that helped Minnesotans on Medical Assistance get help with daily living at home. The state is now transitioning that program to Community First Services & Supports (CFSS), with most of the same services under a new framework.

If you receive PCA today (or someone in your family does), here's what to expect.

What's staying the same

• The day-to-day care: bathing, dressing, mobility, meal prep, medication reminders, transfers, household support.
• The home setting. CFSS is designed to keep care at home, just like PCA.
• The funding source. Most CFSS use is paid through Medical Assistance.
• The 310-hour monthly limit on individual caregivers' PCA-style work — that workforce rule continues under CFSS.

For most clients, the experience of receiving care isn't dramatically different.

What's changing

More structured planning

CFSS introduces a more participant-directed planning process. The person receiving services (often with family or a designated representative) plays a larger role in deciding which supports they need, when, and how. Care plans get reviewed regularly.

Two delivery models

PCA had one model — agencies hired and managed caregivers. CFSS has two:

• Agency-Provider model: the agency (HAAS) hires and supervises caregivers. Most clients pick this.
• Budget model: the participant manages their own budget and may hire workers directly. More flexibility, more responsibility.

Updated paperwork

The transition involves new forms — service agreements, budgets, plan documentation. Most of this happens between your provider and your case manager.

What current PCA recipients need to do

For most clients: very little. The transition is administrative, and HAAS handles the paperwork in coordination with your case manager. If you're a current PCA client and your services need to change in any way, we'll contact you directly to walk through it.

The transition is happening over time, not all at once. Different counties and waiver groups are moving over on different schedules. You don't need to chase the change — your case manager and provider will know when it's your turn.

Will my caregiver change?

In most cases, no. We work hard to maintain caregiver-client continuity through the transition. If a caregiver isn't able to continue under CFSS rules (rare), HAAS handles the transition to a new caregiver thoughtfully.

A note on confusion

The PCA → CFSS transition has caused a lot of uncertainty across Minnesota — for clients, for caregivers, and for agencies. If something you've heard contradicts what your case manager or provider tells you, ask questions. We'd rather be the boring source of truth than have you worried about your care.

If you have a specific question about your situation, give us a call. We'll help you sort it out.