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California SOC 321 IHSS Paramedical Services Order

In-Home Supportive Services can pay an unlicensed IHSS provider to do paramedical tasks, such as injections, catheter or ostomy care, wound care or tube feeding, only when a licensed professional orders them. On the SOC 321 the professional names the condition, lists each service with the time it takes, how often and for how long, and agrees to direct the care.

Who completes it

A licensed physician or surgeon, podiatrist or dentist completes the 'To be completed by a licensed professional' pages and signs the certification. The county fills in the cover letter, and the recipient signs the informed consent on the last page.

Submitting and payment

How to submit it
Return the completed form to the county welfare department (the IHSS social worker) shown on page 1.
Who pays
The form states that the examination is reimbursable through Medi-Cal as an office visit, provided all other applicable Medi-Cal requirements are met.

Good to know

  • By signing, the professional certifies the order is within their scope, the services are needed to maintain health, and they will direct the care and have explained the risks.
  • Each service needs the time per occurrence, the frequency (for example, two times daily) and how long it should be provided.
  • The cover letter points out that IHSS providers are not licensed health care professionals and will rarely be trained in providing health care.
  • The order is required before the county can authorize paramedical hours, and a new SOC 321 is needed when the order changes.

Get the official form

Download the current version from the source each time; forms change without notice.

Request for Order and Consent - Paramedical Services

Official pagePDF

How this list is checked

A form is listed only after its name and number were confirmed on the issuing agency’s or insurer’s own website, or in the form itself. Each entry links to that source. The list was last checked in October 2026. Forms and their requirements change without notice, so check the official page for the current version before you complete one.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can sign the SOC 321?

A professional licensed in California whose scope covers the order: the form offers physician/surgeon, podiatrist or dentist. The signer certifies the services are necessary, that they will provide direction, and that they have told the recipient about the risks of an IHSS provider performing them.

Is the SOC 321 exam billable?

The county's cover letter on the form states that the examination of the patient is reimbursable through Medi-Cal as an office visit, provided that all other applicable Medi-Cal requirements are met.

What counts as an IHSS paramedical service?

Activities that, because of the recipient's physical or mental condition, are necessary to maintain their health and that they would perform themselves if not functionally impaired. Typical examples include injections, catheter or ostomy care, wound care and tube feeding, provided by the recipient's IHSS provider.