Two or More Participants in the Same Residence
MFAW Guidebook
Two or More Participants in the Same Residence
When two or more participants reside in the same residence who require PDN and their skilled needs can be met by one nurse, the total units authorized must be divided between the participants receiving services and may not exceed the actual amount of time (in 15 minute units) the nurse is in the home. The Service Coordinator (SC) will authorize only the medically necessary units of service required.
- An assessment is completed for each participant to determine their individual skilled needs and whether or not one nurse can safely and adequately meet the care needs of both participants at the same time.
- The authorization for each participant is individualized, the authorizations for each participant may not be equal.
- Authorization of PRN (as needed) hours may be considered to ensure adequate nursing is available for circumstances when one participant is not in the home, such as medical appointments or hospitalization
- In instances when there is a large variance in the medically necessary care of the participants, the SC must consult with the Regional Coordinator (RC) and HCY Program Manager as soon as practicable to discuss the appropriate services to authorize for each participant, based on their individual skilled needs.
If one participant is out of the home due to hospitalization or other reason, the family should notify the SC as soon as possible. The participant remaining in the home will only receive their authorized PDN services until the SC is contacted so the authorization can be evaluated.
When PDN services are approved for multiple participants in the same home, the SC will complete a new Confirmation of Verbal Service Authorization form for each participant. The SC will give the provider agency notification that the authorization will be for one nurse to provide services to multiple children.
Example Authorization
Assessed Service Needs – 8 hours/night Sunday through Thursday for each child.
Participant A – PDN 4 hours/night Sunday through Thursday.
Participant B – PDN 4 hours/night Sunday through Thursday.
Services Provided – 8 hours/night Sunday through Thursday split between siblings (4 hours/sibling).
If one participant is out of the home, the participant remaining in the home will receive 8 hours/night Sunday through Thursday.