3304-4-01. Definitions for the personal care assistance program  


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  • The following terms are used throughout Chapter 3304-4 of the Administrative Code:

    (A) "Adjusted income" means total annual income, less impairment-related expenses.

    (B) "Applicant" means a person who has applied for and has been determined eligible for services from the personal care assistance program.

    (C) "Assistant" means a person who provides personal assistance services.

    (D) "Competitive employment" means full-time or part-time work in the competitive labor market in an integrated setting and for which earnings are at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled; and for which earnings are equivalent to at least twenty hours per week at the minimum wage.

    (E) "Days" means working days.

    (F) "Employed" means engaged in competitive work.

    (G) "Employer costs" means costs incurred as a result of employing a personal care attendant as a W2 employee or 1099 contractor.

    (H) "Household" means the applicant/participant, spouse, and any dependents identified on the applicant/participant annual federal tax return.

    (I) "Impairment-related expenses" means all expenditures incurred by the applicant/ participant because of disability that are not reimbursable by another source; only that amount actually paid out by the applicant/participant during the year in question may be counted.

    (J) "Integrated setting," with respect to an employment outcome, means a setting typically found in the community in which participants interact with persons who do not have a disability, other than service providers, to the same extent that non-disabled persons in comparable positions interact with other persons.

    (K) "Participant" means an eligible person who is authorized to receive reimbursement for wages paid for personal assistance services through the personal care assistance program.

    (L) "PCA" means the personal care assistance program.

    (M) "Personal assistance services" means services that help a person who has a severe physical disability perform the activities of daily living.

    (N) "Program" means the OOD personal care assistance program.

    (O) "OOD" (i.e., opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities) means the Ohio agency that administers the personal care assistance program.

    (P) "Severe physical disability" means a physical impairment that substantially limits a person's functional capability to engage in major life activities, thus requiring assistance with a minimum of three of the following activities of daily living:

    (1) Ambulating - the ability to move about, with or without devices like canes, crutches, walkers, manual or power wheelchairs;

    (2) Bathing - getting in and out of the shower/tub, ensuring safety while bathing, applying cleansing agent, rinsing, and drying;

    (3) Bladder care - managing the use of a catheter and urine bag;

    (4) Bowel program - see Toileting;

    (5) Communication services - assisting with verbal, written, and signed communication;

    (6) Dressing - selecting clothing, putting on and taking off clothing/prosthesis (including fastening and unfastening clothing articles/prosthesis);

    (7) Driver services - assistance with transportation with a driver who is not compensated through other funding sources;

    (8) Eating - getting food or drink from a plate/bowl to the mouth, chewing, and swallowing;

    (9) Fine motor activities - coordinating small muscles of hand, fingers, toes, wrists, lips, tongue, including the ability to grasp, pick up, and release objects;

    (10) Grooming - hair care, nail care, oral hygiene, and skin care (including applying or removing makeup);

    (11) Household chores - cleaning, organizing and maintaining the space in the home;

    (12) Laundry - washing, drying, folding, hanging, ironing, and mending clothing and household items;

    (13) Meal preparation - planning meals, obtaining groceries, opening food packages, safely using kitchen appliances, and cooking/reheating meals;

    (14) Medication management - obtaining, organizing, and maintaining medications, and taking medications as directed;

    (15) Physical therapy exercises - therapeutic exercises to promote optimal physical functioning and pain management, including range of motion exercises;

    (16) Reading services - oral presentation of text;

    (17) Record keeping - preparing and managing correspondence, filing, completing forms, writing personal checks;

    (18) Toileting - using a toilet/bedpan/urinal, changing incontinence supplies or feminine hygiene products, and self-cleansing, including a formal bowel program;

    (19) Transfers / repositioning - moving from one position to another; and

    (20) Ventilator maintenance - monitoring and promoting the safe use of a ventilator, including suctioning.

    (Q) "Total annual income" means all money received by the applicant/participant and by the applicant's or participant's spouse during the year in question. Such income shall be verifiable.

    (R) "ADL" (i.e. activities of daily living) means an individual's routine daily self-care activities.

Replaces: 3304-4-01


Effective: 10/29/2018
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/17/2023
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3304.41
Rule Amplifies: 3304.41
Prior Effective Dates: 10/01/1982, 07/01/1986, 07/01/1996, 09/01/1999, 11/01/2002, 10/09/2007, 11/14/2013