PERSONAL CARE SERVICES PROVIDER IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Fatumata Kaba
Oct 13
4 min read

DELIVERING COMPASSIONATE, HANDS-ON SUPPORT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES AND INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS

Personal Care Services (PCS) in South Carolina support individuals with physical, cognitive, or age-related limitations who require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming, mobility, and eating. These services are covered under South Carolina Medicaid through the State Plan, Community Long Term Care (CLTC) programs, and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers, enabling individuals to remain safely in their homes or communities instead of entering institutional care.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS)

Role: Administers Medicaid programs, oversees provider enrollment, authorizes PCS services, and reimburses claims.

Agency: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)**

Role: Licenses in-home care providers and monitors health and safety standards for personal care agencies.

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)**

Role: Ensures South Carolina's Medicaid services comply with federal regulations, including waiver requirements.

2. PERSONAL CARE SERVICES OVERVIEW

Personal Care Services are non-medical, hands-on supports provided in the participant’s home or community setting to promote independence and reduce reliance on institutional care.

Approved providers may offer:

Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, and eating.
Instrumental ADL (IADL) Support: Light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, and meal preparation (when related to ADLs).
Mobility Assistance: Safe ambulation and transferring techniques for those with mobility impairments.
Health Maintenance Tasks: Support with self-administered medications, under supervision (not clinical).
Safety Monitoring & Supervision: Ensuring participant well-being and reporting changes in condition.
Documentation: Shift logs, care notes, and time tracking for Medicaid billing.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business entity with the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Obtain EIN from the IRS and a Type 2 NPI.
Apply for a DHEC In-Home Care Provider License.
Enroll as a Medicaid provider with SCDHHS under Personal Care Services or attendant care.
Maintain insurance (general liability, workers’ comp, and professional liability if required).
Develop a Personal Care Services Policy & Procedure Manual that aligns with Medicaid and DHEC standards.

4. SOUTH CAROLINA PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Register your business and apply for a DHEC license as an In-Home Care provider.

Step 2: Secure EIN, NPI, and required insurance coverage.

Step 3: Apply for provider enrollment through the SCDHHS Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal.

Step 4: Submit agency documentation including your PCS manual, staffing plan, and organizational structure.

Step 5: Begin receiving service authorizations from CLTC case managers or waiver administrators.

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation, EIN, and NPI confirmation
DHEC In-Home Care Provider license
Medicaid enrollment approval letter
Insurance certificates (liability, workers’ comp)
Personal Care Services Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- Client intake and care plan development
- ADL assistance procedures and safety protocols
- Caregiver documentation standards
- Participant rights and HIPAA policies
- Incident response and quality assurance plans
- Medicaid billing logs and supervisory visit checklists

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Personal Care Aide / Attendant

Requirements: Minimum training per DHEC guidelines (often 40+ hours), background checks, CPR/First Aid certification.

Role: RN Supervisor (if required by license or waiver)

Requirements: Active SC RN license, responsible for care plan oversight and aide supervision.

Role: Administrator / Program Coordinator

Requirements: Responsible for staff compliance, quality control, and DHEC documentation.

All staff must complete:

ADL and personal care skills training
HIPAA and confidentiality training
Abuse prevention and safety training
Annual performance evaluations and competency assessments
Ongoing in-service education (as required by DHEC)

7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS

Personal Care Services are available through:

Community Long Term Care (CLTC) Program – Personal care and attendant services for seniors and adults with disabilities
HASCI Waiver – For individuals with head or spinal cord injuries
ID/RD Waiver – For individuals with intellectual and related disabilities
Medicaid State Plan Services – For eligible individuals requiring personal care without waiver enrollment
Self-Directed Options – Participants may select their own personal care provider from an approved agency