Pets and Disabilities
September is National Service Dog Month! National Service Dog Month is a month-long celebration honoring the hard work and life-changing impact service dogs make on people with disabilities every day. Service dogs and other pets can make a huge impact on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. by Spencer GriffinCommunications Director
Tips for Navigating IEPs
The new school year kicking off can bring both excitement and stress! While many families are preparing for the first day(s) by gathering their supplies and new shoes, families of children with disabilities are often also preparing for any accommodations or tools their child will need to be successful in the upcoming year. If your…
Recruiting Quality Caregivers
Choosing the right caregiver for yourself or a loved one is a major decision. There are many options to consider when hiring, and resources at times can be overwhelming. According to the CDC, there will be 71 millon people 65 and older when all the baby boomers are at least 65 in the year 2030[1]….
Understanding and Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse within a Self-Directed Service Delivery Model
Fraud, waste, and abuse is a common phrase heard throughout the medical and social services industry. Understanding what this means and how to prevent it is a key concern for state Medicaid agencies, managed care organizations, and self-direction program staff. We’re going to break down each of these topics and provide examples of steps you…
Why FMS Ownership Matters (Part Two)- Being CPA Owned
This is a big year for Palco! In 2023, we mark our 25th anniversary – but “25” is really just the tip of the iceberg. Palco’s parent company, which is a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm owned by two CPAs, is in its 33rd year of business. And, we actually piloted the nation’s first self-directed…
Palco Program Spotlight – Colorado
Colorado Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services program (CDASS) In 2019, Palco began partnering with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) to serve as a Financial Management Services vendor for the Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) program. The CDASS program helps eligible home and community-based waiver participants hire and manage their own attendants…
Palco Newsletter- Q2 2023
Click here to read Palco’s Quarter Two Newsletter for 2023.
ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a wide-ranging federal Civil Rights act that was passed and signed into law in 1990. It prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. Take a look at the video below to see what all the act encompasses and how it helps you and your loved ones. by Kady…
An Earned Wage Solution for the 21st Century Caregiver
“Accessing my pay when I need it has brought me major stress relief when it comes to putting gas in my car and buying food. I am grateful to the Palco program for having this resource.” – Palco Self-Directing Caregiver Caregiver Crisis It’s difficult to miss news discussing the caregiver crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic, an…
Implementing EVV in Self-Direction
In case you missed it, the 21st Century Cures Act requires states to use Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for any Medicaid-funded personal care services. Failure to comply with this requirement results in a reduction of the state’s FMAP (Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage). EVV electronically captures the type of service performed, who received the service, who…
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Include our Aging and Disabled Neighbors
Many people working at Palco have the shared experience of family members or close friends with special needs that require additional home care support. These include those with disabilities of any age and/or aging loved ones. We have committed portions of our lives and careers to responding to these needs and finding the services and…
Summer Safety and Free Fun for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Getting out and having fun in the sun is always one of the exciting parts of summer, but for aging adults, those activities can be dangerous without taking the proper precautions. This is especially true for those days of extreme heat and high UV index. While the tips we give below are far from comprehensive,…
The Right Selection for Self-Direction
Learn about the advantages Palco’s partners have access to! Advantages ✔ Innovative modern technology with live and local service professionals answering customer support requests. ✔ 24/7 cloud-based system with configurable and customizable features to meet any program needs. ✔ Lightning fast enrollment with the capability for full FMS enrollment completion in under 3 minutes! Experience…
Quality Customer Service Matters
The components of a good customer service team consist of creating best practices to help the company develop highly effective processes to streamline the work. Implementing these practices can improve efficiency. Having the ability and knowledge to respond quickly to the client’s needs allows the caller’s issues to be resolved quickly and efficiently. Every client’s…
FMS Roles and Responsibilities with Taxes
As the 2022 tax season comes to a close, self-directed stakeholders may be curious about the role the Financial Management Service (FMS) provider plays in filing taxes and assisting in managing their self-directed services within a Fiscal Employer Agent (F/EA) program. First, its important to know that when a self-directing employer enrolls with the FMS,…
Think Palco First
The most dangerous phrase in language is, we’ve always done it this way. -Grace Hopper In order to evolve and remain in line with a vision that produces results and quality care, Palco has continued to modernize our technology to meet the demands of the self-directed marketplace. Email us at partnerships@palcofirst.com to learn more. by…
Palco Program Spotlight- Ohio
Less than a year ago, Palco partnered with the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio to serve as the Financial Management Services (FMS) vendor for the Elderly Services Program (ESP). The Elderly Services Program helps older adults from Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren counties – Cincinnati to Oxford, Mason to Wilmington, and everywhere in between…
Why FMS Ownership Matters
The Financial Management Services (FMS) industry has seen tremendous growth in the last decade due to an increasing demand for in-home services and support across our country. More than ever before, recent world events like the COVID pandemic emphasized the value and importance of being able to age in your preferred location like your home,…
Employer Responsibilities In Self-Direction
Self-Direction: A Medicaid Long-Term Care Model Self-direction is a Medicaid long-term care model that supports the chronically ill, older adults, and those with a disability at any age to remain at home and in their community. It empowers individuals to live the lives they want to live. To stay safe in your home, you or…
Impact of Cloud-Native Services on FMS
An overview of the impact and benefits of cloud-native software for financial management services (FMS). At Palco, we want to help individuals overcome all barriers to living their most meaningful lives. In today’s world, that demands understanding the transformation Financial Management Services (FMS) have seen in the last decade. We have spent time and capital…
Support Coordinator Toolbox
The role of a Support Broker in self-direction ensures participants and employers have the support and guidance they need to be successful in directing and managing their care. Through person-centered support, a dedicated Support Broker understands the unique needs of the participant/employer and helps educate and connect them to the things they need. Depending on…
Wages Now
How Does Wages Now Work? You can access your wages through the Money Network Card’s easy access portal at any time during your pay period. After shifts are completed, offers will be provided through the smart phone application, offering you up to 50% of the money you have earned from your shift. Your early payroll…
Plant Your Future with Palco
A 25-year Story of SuccessPalco has provided FMS services since 1999, starting in Arkansas, which was the first state to pilot self-direction. Our headquarters, however, are where you are. We serve a nation-wide client base providing tools and solutions right where you are. The entire company grew out of the commonsense fiscally responsible model of…
CO CDASS MMES Now Available Digitally
The Monthly Client Expenditure Statement (MMES) for each member is now electronically available in the Palco Case Management Portal (CMP) and in Connect for CDASS employers! The MMES provides a breakdown of spending and remaining monthly reserve funds for CDASS employers to be able to correctly monitor and manage their budget. Case Managers & Supervisors…
2022 Financial Management Services End of Year Memo
This memo will answer some frequently asked end-of-year questions as well as tell you what you can expect from Palco as we close out 2022. W2 Forms The IRS requires that all 2022 W-2s be mailed to employees no later than January 31, 2023. Palco will mail all W-2s through the United States Postal Service. If…
Colorado EVV Strike Protocol Reminders & Resources
This notice is only for CDASS Members or Authorized Representatives who are required to use EVV. In Colorado, CDASS Members/Authorized Representatives are subject to compliance measures such as the Electronic Visit Verification Protocol that is monitored by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). Palco provides monthly reporting and data, as required by…
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As online threats to your personal data become more common, guarding it means taking action. We often think changing our passwords or installing anti-virus software will be enough. However, today a new phrase is, “if you can connect it, you need to protect it.” This means it takes more to…