National Background Check Program for long-term-care providers: assessment of state programs concluded between 2013 and 2016
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Report in brief
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Inspector General. Office of Evaluation and Inspections, issuing body.
- Publication:
- [Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, April 2019
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Crime -- prevention & control Government Programs Health Personnel -- legislation & jurisprudence Long-Term Care -- legislation & jurisprudence Violence -- prevention & control Criminals Federal Government Government Regulation Home Care Services -- legislation & jurisprudence Home Health Aides -- legislation & jurisprudence Mandatory Programs Nursing Homes -- legislation & jurisprudence State Government Humans United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S.)
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why OIG Did This Review. Background checks are an important safety measure that can help protect the 9 million beneficiaries who rely on long-term-care services each year for safe, dependable care. These checks can prevent individuals with disqualifying histories (e.g., convictions for patient abuse, patient neglect, and theft from patients) from being hired to care for beneficiaries. Congress mandates that OIG evaluate various aspects of Program implementation. This report provides an assessment of States that concluded Program participation prior to 2017, and it also provides information for CMS to assist States that continue to participate in the Program. How OIG Did This Review. We reviewed grant-monitoring documents and financial reports to determine the extent to which the 10 States that concluded participation between 2013 and 2016 had implemented selected Program requirements. Additionally, we surveyed the 10 States to collect information on their experiences with their respective background check programs. What OIG Found. The 10 States that had concluded their participation in the Program by 2016 varied as to the degree to which they achieved implementation of Program requirements. Seven of these 10 States implemented all or most of the selected requirements. Three States did not have the necessary authority through State legislation and could not fully implement background check programs. Of the background checks that 8 of the 10 States conducted, nearly 80,000 resulted in determinations of ineligibility for prospective employees. The number of determinations of ineligibility and rates of ineligibility varied among the States (i.e., from less than 1 percent to 8 percent). None of the States reported a reduction in available workforce for long-term-care facilities or providers as a result of the Program. What OIG Recommends. To better protect beneficiaries from potential harm, CMS should take appropriate action to encourage participating States to obtain necessary authorities to fully implement Program requirements. CMS concurred with our recommendation.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (37 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101757544 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101757544