Section 240.1530  General In-home Service Staffing Requirements

a)         Each in-home service provider shall have specified staff adequate in number to comply with Section 240.1520(f) to carry out the following functions:

1)         A designated individual who has responsibility for administration of the CCP in-home service program.

2)         Qualified in-home service staff to meet the needs of all cases referred for the provision of in-home services.  In determining what services are sufficient, the Department shall look to whether in-home services are adequate.  Inadequate in-home services are characterized by delays or interruptions in the provision of in‑home services or by failure to provide in-home services as required by the Plan of Care.

b)         The in-home service provider shall assign responsibilities to staff, including the following:

1)         Planning and administration of the in-home service program; assuring adequate staff to provide required services at all times; serving as liaison between the staff and the community; implementing policies according to regulations promulgated by the Department that govern the program; recommending policy and program changes to the Department; and recruiting, training and supervising staff.

2)         Supervising of homecare aides shall be accomplished by qualified staff who have responsibility to ensure that the aides are scheduled and that assignments are kept.

c)         Each in-home service provider shall ensure that supervisors maintain a maximum 15-minute response time when homecare aides they supervise are serving in a client's home and request information, assistance or direction as it relates to the client's status, health or welfare. A supervisor must be available to respond to a homecare aide by available technology, such as by the client's phone, or the aide's/provider's electronic equipment, email, cell phone, 24/7 live answering system, 2 way radio, or any other similar or suitable technology, according to the provider's written procedures.

d)         In-home service providers shall not subcontract for management, supervisory or in-home staff.

e)         In-home service providers shall make one hour service segments available when needed to meet applicant/client needs.

f)          Electronic Timekeeping Systems

1)         The Department encourages in-home service providers to explore available technology for automating the timekeeping system for monitoring work schedules of homecare aides.

2)         The timekeeping system should be capable of allowing homecare aides to clock in and out, verifying identity and location, so supervisory staff will be notified of any missed shifts and can arrange for a replacement worker or reschedule service to another time.

3)         The timekeeping system should be capable of transmitting automated timekeeping information to the Department when requested, for administrative and quality assurance purposes.

4)         In-home service providers should be aware that the Department will be considering making automated timekeeping systems mandatory in the future and may propose amendments to this Part requiring those systems.

g)                     In-home service providers shall make evening and weekend service available to CCP clients as required by the Plan of Care.

1)         Evening service shall be available until at least 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

2)         Weekend service shall be available from at least 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

3)         Provider offices are not required to be open for business during evening and weekend hours; however, a supervisor must be on-call and available whenever service is being provided.

h)         In-home service providers shall provide escort/transportation when required by the Plan of Care.

i)          Subject to the following restrictions, in-home service providers may hire family caregivers of applicants/clients, or homecare aides who are recommended by applicants/clients, once they have met all applicable CCP requirements and any other agency employment requirements:

1)         A family caregiver shall not be required to care for other applicants/clients served by the in-home service provider agency.

2)         A family caregiver cannot be the spouse of, or otherwise legally responsible for, an applicant/client.

j)          In-home service providers shall report and regularly update, as required by law, any registry of individuals certified as homecare aides (e.g., Health Care Worker Registry of the Illinois Department of Public Health) that is administered by the State of Illinois.

(Source:  Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 4830, effective March 23, 2009)