IHSS Care Planning and Authorized Hours 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the IHSS care plan developed during the social worker's assessment?
- To schedule the provider's work hours
- To document the specific tasks and hours authorized for the recipient (Correct answer)
- To establish the provider's pay rate
- To record the recipient's medical diagnoses
Correct answer: To document the specific tasks and hours authorized for the recipient
The care plan documents exactly which tasks are authorized, the estimated time for each task, and the total monthly hours approved for the recipient's IHSS services.
Question 2: An IHSS recipient disagrees with the number of hours authorized in their care plan. What is the appropriate way to challenge this decision?
- Have the provider work extra hours and log them anyway
- File a state fair hearing request within the specified timeframe on the NOA (Correct answer)
- Contact the provider's union representative
- Submit a complaint to the federal government
Correct answer: File a state fair hearing request within the specified timeframe on the NOA
Recipients have the right to appeal authorized hours by requesting a state fair hearing, which must be requested within the timeframe stated on the Notice of Action.
Question 3: Under IHSS rules, what generally happens to a recipient's authorized services when they are admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility?
- Services continue normally because the provider must visit them there
- Services are temporarily suspended during the inpatient stay (Correct answer)
- The provider is paid standby wages during the hospitalization
- The recipient's hours are automatically doubled upon discharge
Correct answer: Services are temporarily suspended during the inpatient stay
IHSS services are suspended when a recipient is admitted to a hospital or nursing facility because they are receiving care in that setting and IHSS is designed for in-home support.
Question 4: Which professional has the authority to authorize additional IHSS hours beyond what was originally assessed?
- The IHSS provider
- The recipient's spouse
- The county social worker (Correct answer)
- The recipient's insurance company
Correct answer: The county social worker
Only the county social worker has the authority to authorize changes to the IHSS care plan, including increasing the number of approved hours.
Question 5: When a social worker conducts a reassessment visit, what should the IHSS provider do if they are present?
- Speak on behalf of the recipient to ensure accurate information is shared
- Leave the home so the social worker and recipient can speak privately (Correct answer)
- Complete their tasks quietly while the assessment takes place
- Provide written documentation of all tasks performed over the past year
Correct answer: Leave the home so the social worker and recipient can speak privately
The reassessment is between the social worker and the recipient; providers should step out to allow for a private conversation, unless the recipient specifically requests the provider to stay.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a domestic service that may be included in an IHSS care plan?
- Administering prescription medications
- Performing light housekeeping and laundry (Correct answer)
- Providing physical therapy exercises
- Making medical decisions for the recipient
Correct answer: Performing light housekeeping and laundry
Light housekeeping and laundry are domestic services that can be authorized in an IHSS care plan when the recipient's disability prevents them from performing these tasks independently.
Question 7: An IHSS recipient's care plan authorizes 3 hours per week for meal preparation. What does this mean for the provider?
- The provider can spend as much time as needed on meals each week
- The provider should complete meal preparation within the authorized 3 hours and cannot be paid for additional time beyond that (Correct answer)
- The 3 hours is a minimum and the provider should always do more
- The provider can transfer unused meal prep hours to personal care tasks
Correct answer: The provider should complete meal preparation within the authorized 3 hours and cannot be paid for additional time beyond that
Authorized hours for each task represent the approved limit; providers must complete tasks within the authorized time and cannot receive payment for time beyond what is approved.
IHSS Care Planning and Authorized Hours 2
What is the primary purpose of the IHSS care plan developed during the social worker's assessment?