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Abstract

Providing personal assistance services (PAS) in the workplace (WPAS) is one approach to support the employment of individuals with disabilities. This descriptive study examined the implementation of Medicaid WPAS by collecting and analyzing telephone interview data from key informants selected from county and public authority officials in California in 2010. The results showed that less than a fraction of 1% of individuals with disabilities who used Medicaid personal care services used the services at work. The barriers to using WPAS included lack of consumer knowledge about the Medicaid buy-in program and about WPAS, lack of additional hours allocated for WPAS, lack of WPAS arrangements for intermittent services and transportation, negative attitudes of PAS staff, and uncertainty regarding PAS budget cuts. Policy recommendations include improving information about the buy-in program and WPAS, collecting WPAS information about client interest in working, establishing a WPAS client tracking system, increasing hours to cover PAS at work, addressing negative PAS staff attitudes, and increasing the flexibility of PAS hours and services.

Keywords

Medicare/Medicaid personal assistance employment

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Barriers to Use of Workplace Personal Assistance Services to Support Employment in California

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