MassHealth PCA Resources for Consumers

Here you will find resourceful organizations that can help you as a PCA employer

Organizations to help in your role as an employer

Organization Name/Description	When to contact	Phone Number	Website
Attorney General (AG) Office of Fair Labor and Business Practices – Assist with questions on labor and wage laws	If you have questions about payment of wages, employing minors, paying overtime, etc.	617-727-3465
Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) – oversees workers’ compensation system in Massachusetts	If you have questions about the workers’ compensation system	800-323-3249	www.mass.gov/dia
Department of Revenue (DOR) – Manages state laws	If you have questions about your employer taxes	800-392-6089	www.mass.gov/dor
Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) – Manages unemployment insurance taxes and claims	If you have questions about an unemployment claim filed by your PCA or about your unemployment taxes	877-626-6800	www.mass.gov/dua
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Federal tax information and forms	If you have questions about your federal employer taxes	Contact your local IRS office	www.irs.gov
Mass. Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) – Enforces anti-discrimination laws	If you have questions about your responsibilities as an employer relating to discrimination and sexual harassment	413-739-2145 617-994-6000	www.mass.gov/mcad
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services/Office of Business Liaison – Information for employers, including use of I-9 form	If you have questions about documentation required when hiring PCAs, including the I-9 form	800-375-5283	www.uscis.gov

Organizations to help you find PCAs (Your PCM agency can also provide other resources to find PCAs.)

Organization Name/Description	When to contact	Phone Number	Website
Department of Workforce Development – Information about recruitment and employment services for job seekers and employers	When you want to find a Career Center near you, post a job listing, or learn about available recruiting and hiring services	617-626-5300	www.mass.gov/dwd
The PCA Quality Home Care Workforce Council – The Council’s mission is to ensure the quality of long-term, in-home, personal care. The Council will do this by: bargaining with the PCA union on wages and benefits, creating a web-based directory for finding PCAs and increasing recruitment and training opportunities for consumers and PCAs	For feedback on any aspect of the Council’s mission or to arrange a presentation at an agency, community center, or similar setting	617-573-1712	Email: [e-mail]
Rewarding Work Resources, Inc – Maintains a searchable database for matching persons with disabilities and personal care assistants	Use the database to either post a PCA listing or to find a PCA. Rewarding Work charges a fee for using the database	866-212-9675	www.rewardingwork.org

Organizations to help you screen a potential PCA

Organization Name/Description	When to contact	Phone Number	Website
Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)- Maintains criminal record information on potential employees	To request a CORI on a person you may hire as a PCA	617-660-4600	www.mass.gov/chsb
Department of Public Health (DPH) Registry – Maintains a registry of names of people determined by DPH to have abused, neglected, or mistreated a person receiving home health, homemaker, hospice, or nursing facility services	To see if there has been a finding by DPH of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment against someone you may want to hire as your PCA	617-624-6000	www.mass.gov/dph
Sex Offender Registry Board – Maintains a database available for public access of names of convicted sex offenders	To see if a person you may want to hire as your PCA has registered as a sex offender in Massachusetts	800-936-3426 or 978-740-6400	www.mass.gov/sorb

Organizations to help you report abuse or neglect by a PCA or other caretaker

Organization Name/Description	When to contact	Phone Number	Website
Bureau of Special Investigations – Investigates reports of suspected fraud	To report suspected fraud	617-727-6771
Child-at-Risk-Hotline – Investigates reports of abuse and neglect of children under the age of 18	To report abuse or neglect of a child under the age of 18	800-792-5200
Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) – Investigates cases of abuse/neglect of disabled persons aged 18 through 59	To report abuse or neglect of a disabled person aged 18 through 59 by a PCA or other caretaker	800-426-9009	www.mass.gov/dppc
Elder Abuse Hotline – Investigates reports of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of persons aged 60 and older	To report abuse or neglect of an elder	800-922-2275
MassHealth Fraud Hotline- Investigates reports of suspected fraud	To report suspected fraud	617-727-6771

Organizations that can provide you with legal assistance

Organization Name/Description	When to contact	Phone Number	Website
Disability Law Center – Provides legal assistance and information to people with disabilities	To find legal assistance	617-723-8455 413-584-6337	www.dlc-ma.org
Greater Boston Legal Services – Provides legal services for low-income and elderly persons in the Greater Boston Area	To find legal assistance in Greater Boston	617-371-1234	www.gbls.org
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts – provides legal services for low-income and elderly persons in Central Massachusetts	To find legal assistance in Central Massachusetts	617-367-8544	www.mlac.org
Western Mass. Legal Services – Provides legal services for low-income and elderly persons in Western Massachusetts	To find legal assistance in Western Massachusetts	413-781-7814	www.wmls.org

Other helpful organizations and state agencies

Organization Name/Description	When to contact	Phone Number	Website
Mass Options – Provides information and resources for elders and their caregivers	To find information on available resources and services for elders and their caregivers	800-AGE-INFO 800-243-4636	www.massoptions.org
Department of Mental Health (DMH)- Provides information and services for people with mental health needs	To find information on available resources and services for people with mental health needs	617-626-8000	www.mass.gov/dmh
Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) – Provides information, resources, and services for elders aged 60 and over	To find information on available resources and services for elders and their caregivers	617-727-7750	www.mass.gov/elder
Mass. Commissions for the Blind (MCB) – Provides an array of social and rehabilitative services to persons who are legally blind	To find information on available resources and services for people who are legally blind	800-392-6450 617-727-5550	www.mass.gov/mcb
Mass. Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) – Provides information and resources for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing	To find information on available resources for people who are deaf or hard of hearing	800-882-1155 TTY: 800-530-7570	www.mass.gov/mcdhh
MassHealth – Administers the Medicaid program and other health programs in Massachusetts	To find information about MassHealth services or obtain a list of PCM Agencies	800-841-2900	www.mass.gov/masshealth
Mass. Office on Disability (MOD)- Provides information and advocacy for people with disabilities; promotes access for people with disabilities; oversees the state’s compliance with ADA	To find information on available government programs, or for help with rehabilitation and independent living related services	800-322-2020	www.mass.gov/mod

Other helpful organizations and state agencies (continued)

Organization Name/Description	When to contact	Phone Number	Website
Mass. Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) – Provides information and resources for persons with disabilities; administers funds for vocational programs and independent living centers; administers assistive technology grant	If you need help in obtaining employment or living in the community, or are looking for resource for assistive technology In Home Case Coordination- can include PCA program surrogacy.	617-204-3600	www.mass.gov/mrc
Social Security Administration (SSA) – Administers social security benefits, including SSI