Personal Care Attendant Quality
Home Care Workforce Council
600 Washington Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA  02111 

DEVAL L. PATRICK
Governor

TIMOTHY P. MURRAY
Lieutenant Governor

JUDYANN BIGBY, M.D.
Secretary

Tel.:  617-210-5715
www.mass.gov/pca

		

Personal Care Attendant Quality Home Care Workforce Council
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108

Council Meeting

Minutes	April 14, 2009	2:00 P.M.	21st floor, 1 Ashburton Place 	
 	
coUNCIL
 members in attendance	Joe Bellil, Liz Casey, Joe Tringali, Paul Spooner, and Denise Harvey	
 Staff attending	Jack Boesen, Michelle Byrd	
 chair	Jean McGuire	
Note taker	Michelle Byrd	
agenda setting	No issues were added to previously-issued agenda	

The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Paul Spooner at 2:10 pm.

Approval of Meeting Minutes
After the introduction of members and staff, Joe Bellil moved that the general and executive session minutes from the February meeting be approved.  The motion was seconded by Joe Tringali and approved unanimously.  

Referral Directory Update
Karen Langley provided an update on the PCA referral directory.  Most of the web content and outreach materials are complete and have been reviewed and revised by Liz Casey, Larry Braman and Joe Tringali.  A staging site currently exists and that can be the basis for outreach and training meetings to PCM agencies.  Karen has contacted MassHealth about setting these meetings up.  Security compliance for the site is being finalized with MassHealth IT.

Consumer Survey Report
Dr. James Maxwell from JSI Research and Training Institute presented the Council members with an overview of findings from the Consumer Survey.  Council members reviewed the data provided and asked for further clarification on some items.  The complete PowerPoint presentation will be posted to the Council website. 

Labor Management Committee
Liz Casey reported on Labor Management committee meetings.  The last meeting addressed issues surrounding payments to PCAs and specifically, problems concerning missed or late payments.  The meeting was attended by representatives of MassHealth, SEIU, PCM’s and FI’s.  It was agreed that PCAs were to address their employers directly concerning payment problems.  The employers would contact the FI to try and resolve the issue.  Where applicable, PCMs would assist both the employer as well as PCAs directly to assist in the resolution of the problem.  If the problem remains unresolved after these steps are taken, the PCA is directed to contact the wage and hour division of the Labor Department. 

Update on Community College Training Program
Michelle Byrd provided the council members with a written report on the training program including the number of trainings provided, the total number of PCAs who have successfully completed CPR trainings as well as a detailed expenditure report.  Funding has been allocated for a state-wide first aid course planned for later this year.

Update on health care options study
Jack Boesen reported that the study of health care options will be completed by mid-May.  

Council Budget Report
Jack Boesen and Joe Bellil reported on expenses as of 4/2/09 including a review of expenditure categories.

Jean McGuire asked for any additional questions or announcements before the Council moved into executive session.

Jack Boesen announced that Larry Braman has resigned his position on the Council and that the process to replace him would begin as soon as possible.  Jack also informed the council that the proposed workshop titled; “Bridges for an Interdependent Community” was approved by MRC.  The MRC Annual consumer Conference will be held on Thursday, June 18th. 

A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to move to executive session at 3:05 p.m. 

The Council came out of executive session.  A motion was made, seconded and passed to adjourn at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Byrd