IHSS - In-Home Supportive Services certified provider Authorized vs. Unauthorized Tasks Questions and Answers

Question 1

An IHSS recipient's daughter, who is not an authorized recipient of services, asks you to do her laundry along with her mother's. What is the appropriate action to take?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to do the daughter's laundry and explain that you are only authorized to provide services for the IHSS recipient.

Answer

Complete the daughter's laundry as a courtesy since you are already doing a load for the recipient.

Answer

Ask the daughter to pay you separately for the extra work.

Answer

Report the daughter to the county social worker for making an inappropriate request.

Question 2

Which of the following tasks is considered an 'unauthorized' task for an IHSS provider?

Accepted Answer

Washing the exterior windows of the recipient's home.

Answer

Taking out the recipient's garbage.

Answer

Accompaniment to a medical appointment.

Answer

Sweeping and vacuuming the floors.

Question 3

A recipient's doctor has ordered daily wound care, which requires sterile procedures. As an IHSS provider, what must happen before you can perform this task?

Accepted Answer

The task must be authorized as a paramedical service by the county, and you must be trained by a licensed healthcare professional.

Answer

You can perform the task immediately as long as the recipient gives you instructions.

Answer

You must receive training from the recipient's family member on how to perform the care.

Answer

You must complete a general first-aid course online.

Question 4

Your IHSS recipient is hospitalized for a week. They ask you to come to their home to water their plants and clean while they are away. How should you record the hours for these tasks?

Accepted Answer

Ask the recipient to pay you directly in cash and do not record the hours on your IHSS timesheet.

Answer

Record the hours on your timesheet as 'Domestic Services' since cleaning is an authorized task.

Answer

Visit the recipient in the hospital and have them sign a paper timesheet for the hours worked at the home.

Answer

You cannot be paid by IHSS for any services while the recipient is hospitalized, so these hours should not be claimed.

Question 5

Which task related to medication is generally authorized for an IHSS provider without requiring special paramedical authorization?

Accepted Answer

Reminding the recipient to take their pre-sorted medications at the correct time.

Answer

Administering injections.

Answer

Crushing pills and mixing them into food.

Answer

Filling the recipient's weekly pill organizer.

Question 6

Your recipient asks you to drive their grandchild to school while you are on the clock. The recipient's Notice of Action includes hours for 'Accompaniment to Medical Appointments.' How should you respond?

Accepted Answer

Refuse the request, explaining that your authorized transportation services are only for the recipient and for specific purposes like medical appointments.

Answer

Agree to take the grandchild, as transportation is part of your authorized services.

Answer

Take the grandchild to school but do not claim the time on your timesheet.

Answer

Ask the social worker for permission to add 'transporting family members' to the list of authorized tasks.