The PCA Working Group Implementation Plan, as outlined in the SFY 26 budget, mandates the executive office of health and human services to create a comprehensive implementation plan aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability and cost containment of the personal care attendant (PCA) program. This plan must detail the execution of recommendations from previous reports, including actions already taken, anticipated savings, a timeline for implementation, and any necessary program adjustments to meet cost containment goals. The finalized plan is required to be submitted to the secretary of administration and finance and the relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2026.

The bill also incorporates specific recommendations from the PCA Working Group, which include enforcing an overtime cap at 66 hours, addressing fraudulent activities within the PCA program, and eliminating unnecessary paperwork for members without a live-in exemption. Additionally, the group proposed reducing the overtime cap to 60 hours, establishing a 7-hour limit for meal preparation support, and developing a composite benchmark for program growth projections. The working group has identified significant cost discrepancies in the PCA program, indicating that it is currently more expensive than can be justified by population growth and wage increases, prompting the need for these recommendations and subsequent actions.