A plain-language breakdown of both programs — what they cover, who they help, how they work alongside IHSS, and what makes each one unique.
PCHS helps Medi-Cal members who need assistance with daily tasks stay safely at home — rather than moving to a facility.
The core purpose of PCHS: To provide non-medical personal care and homemaker assistance to Medi-Cal Managed Care members whose functional limitations would otherwise require a higher level of care or placement in a facility.
Bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, toileting and continence care, feeding assistance, and mobility/transfers.
Meal preparation, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, laundry, medication reminders, and money management assistance.
PCHS can be authorized while you wait for IHSS approval, and can supplement IHSS when approved hours are not enough to meet your full needs.
What PCHS does NOT cover: PCHS is non-medical only. It does not include skilled nursing, wound care, physical therapy, injections, or any service that requires a licensed medical professional. Those are covered separately through your Medi-Cal medical benefits.
Respite is for the caregivers — the family members and unpaid helpers who provide the bulk of daily care for Medi-Cal members. Caregiver burnout is real, and Respite exists to prevent it.
The core purpose of Respite: To provide temporary, short-term substitute care so that unpaid family caregivers can take a break, attend to their own needs, or handle emergencies — without their loved one going without care.
Respite is designed for intermittent breaks — not long-term ongoing care. It fills in while the primary caregiver is unavailable or needs rest.
A trained caregiver comes to the member's home to provide non-medical supervision, companionship, and basic assistance during the caregiver's absence.
Healthy, rested caregivers provide better care. Respite helps sustain home-based care longer, reducing the likelihood of facility placement.
Like PCHS, Respite requires a Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) from your Medi-Cal plan. Hours and frequency are determined by your plan based on assessed need.
Many families ask how CalAIM PCHS compares to IHSS. They are different programs with different funding sources, but they are designed to work together.
| Feature | CalAIM PCHS | IHSS |
|---|---|---|
| Program Type | Medi-Cal Managed Care Community Support | County-administered social services program |
| Who funds it | Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan | State, county, and federal funding via CDSS |
| Eligibility | Medi-Cal Managed Care members meeting plan criteria | Medi-Cal recipients (aged, blind, or disabled) who meet county assessment |
| Application Process | Referral via MCP care manager or provider | SOC 295 application → home visit assessment by county social worker |
| Timeline to start | Can begin quickly once authorized by MCP | Typically 30–45 days from application to approval |
| Can run simultaneously | Yes | Yes |
| PCHS bridges the gap | Yes — PCHS can cover during IHSS wait period | N/A |
| Long-term program | Varies by plan — may have hour limits | Yes — ongoing as long as eligible |
| Member directs care | Provider selected by plan or member | Yes — member hires and directs their own provider |