Bill Changes Deals For Personal Care

Hoping to preserve the state’s limited general tax revenues, the Senate on Monday narrowly approved legislation backers claim will save millions of dollars - at a cost of just $600,000.

To head off a feared federal mandate that 1,400 independent providers of Medicaid-financed Personal Care Services be added to the state payroll at a general tax cost of nearly $8 million, the Senate voted 18-17 to essentially end the use of independent providers beginning next year.

The bill now goes to the House.

The providers can continue working in the personal care services program, but they will have to be associated with an independent contractor and be able to prove that to the state.

, DataTimes