On October 1st, the state launched BUPS, a statewide backup program.
Under the BUPS, an IHSS recipient may receive temporary IHSS or WPCS from a back-up provider if they have an urgent need for back-up supportive services related to personal care services that cannot be met by an existing provider or the recipient is transitioning to home-based care and does not yet have an identified provider.
For purposes related to the use of the BUPS, an “urgent need” shall be defined as follows;
- The need must be unanticipated.
- The need must be immediate and cannot be postponed until the provider is available to provide the need.
- The need has a direct impact upon the IHSS recipient and delaying the need would potentially jeopardize the health and/or safety of the IHSS recipient and may result in the need for emergency services and/or out-of-home placement.
The direct number for BUPS is 877-287-6789.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Back-Up Provider System (BUPS)?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
The BUPS is a new statewide program that allows any eligible recipient to receive In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) from a back-up provider when the recipient has an urgent or immediate need for back-up related to personal care services, which cannot be met by an existing provider, or when the recipient is transitioning from out-of-home care to home-based care and does not yet have an identified provider.
What is considered an urgent or immediate need?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
An urgent or immediate need is defined by the state in the following manner:
- A need that is immediate and cannot be postponed until the regular provider is available to provide the service; and
- The need has a direct impact upon the IHSS/WPCS recipient, and delaying it would potentially jeopardize the health/safety of the recipient, which may result in the need for emergency services and/or out-of-home placement.
Are back-up hours additional to my monthly IHSS hours?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
No. The hours used to complete back up services MUST BE subtracted from your total monthly hours. A back up request cannot exceed the amount of hours the regular provider would normally work.
What are Personal Care Services?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
Personal care is a task that is performed for a person’s health or well-being. Examples may include, but are not limited to:
- Eating
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Walking or moving around
- Getting in and out of bed
- Toileting
- Administering medications
What are the qualifications of back-up providers?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
- Back-up providers have experience assisting seniors and people with disabilities. They are required to attend a special one-hour informational meeting for back-up providers.
- BUAP providers will need to provide proof of Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate (CNA), a Certified Home Health Aide Certificate (CHHA), the In-Home Supportive Services Training Certificate, or the Homecare Integration Training Certificate.
- All back-up providers must be working less than 66 hours per week.
Can I hire a back-up BUPS provider if they did a great job for me?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
Yes. However, once the individual is hired to work for you and is “linked” to your case as a regular provider, they will not be able to provide back-up services for you in the future, and their pay rate will be that of a regular provider.
What is the pay for a back-up provider?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
- Individuals who work as BUAP providers are paid three dollars an hour more than regular IHSS providers. BUPS providers are paid two dollars an hour more than regular IHSS providers.
- This higher wage acknowledges the extra effort required to respond promptly, on short notice, for a referral to a new consumer in an unfamiliar location.
What is the best way for a recipient to request a temporary back-up provider?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
- Send an email with your name, case number, and address to bups@pascla.org
- Live chat by selecting the chat bubble on the bottom right corner of our webpage.
- Call the BUAP/BUPS toll-free number (877) 287-6789.
What happens if the back-up provider works an hour over the time approved by PASC?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
It is not advisable to ask a back-up provider to work more than the number of hours previously approved by the BUPS due to the following reasons:
- The recipient may not have enough service hours available to cover the extra time, and this could cause the back-up provider to not receive full payment for services or require the recipient to pay out of pocket.
- The provider may exceed the maximum allowable number of work hours per week/month, resulting in an overtime violation.
What if I just need someone to drive me to my doctor’s appointment?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
Under current state policies, going to a doctor’s appointment is not considered an immediate/urgent need.
Can PASC guarantee a back-up provider referral when needed?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
- PASC cannot guarantee that a back-up provider will be found in all instances.
- Factors such as the time of the request, service duration, worker availability, and location can all impact PASC’s ability to find and dispatch a back-up provider.
Can PASC train the back-up providers to perform certain specific services?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
No. PASC does not train back-up providers to perform service-related tasks. IHSS and WPCS recipients are considered employers for hiring, supervising, and training purposes. All training must be done by the recipient.
How many hours of BUPS services can a recipient receive?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
The maximum service hours allowed under BUPS are 80 per fiscal year. Some exceptions allowed. A fiscal year is the period that runs from July 1 to June 30. Hours used under BUPS are deducted from the recipient’s total monthly hours allotment.
If I do not like the back-up provider, can you send me someone else?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
Current BUPS policies state that if a recipient chooses not to use or terminates the back-up provider referred to them by the county or public authority, it will become the responsibility of the recipient to find and hire a back-up provider. This recipient-chosen provider, who is not part of the BUPS, will not be paid the two-dollar wage differential.
Can I request BUPS services if my provider has vacation/sick time that they wish to use in the near future?
By Alisha
/ On January 17, 2023
/
- No. A back-up request is based on urgent/immediate need. A provider taking a vacation would be considered a planned event, and therefore not applicable. The same reasoning applies when use of sick time is planned in advance.
- PASC recommends hiring a provider to cover for the time the regular provider will be away. Recipients can contact the PASC Homecare Registry for assistance with this.
- If a provider calls out sick the same day they are scheduled to work, and did not notify the recipient in advance, a back-up request can be made due to the sudden loss of care.
Does a back-up provider provide the same services as the consumer’s regular provider?
By Alisha
/ On March 10, 2023
/
A back-up provider should be prepared to perform the same range of tasks that your regular provider is authorized to provide, according to IHSS guidelines.
What should a consumer do when the back-up provider arrives at their home?
By Alisha
/ On March 10, 2023
/
- Explain the types of services you need and the number of hours to be worked.
- Direct and supervise the work, and give the provider clear instructions on how you would like services to be provided.
What can a consumer do if they have problems with the back-up provider?
By Alisha
/ On March 10, 2023
/
Email bups@pascla.org or call (877) 287-6789 if:
- The back up provider does not arrive as scheduled.
- You choose not to use the back-up provider.
- You are dissatisfied with the back-up provider or their work.