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Personal care services (PCS)

Guidance for Personal care Services, for eligible beneficiaries to help them stay in their own homes and communities rather than live in institutional settings, such as nursing homes.

Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Issue Date: July 15, 2020

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Personal Care Services (PCS)

Personal care services (PCS) are provided to eligible beneficiaries to help them stay in their own homes and communities rather than live in institutional settings, such as nursing homes. These resources provide a broad understanding of PCS for providers and the problems that can arise when providing and billing these services. We explain personal care attendant (PCA) requirements, the differences between PCS and home health services, and how to avoid improper billing and payments.

Additional resources that are useful for state program integrity offices:

Related Links

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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.