Several states are running behind on implementation of a national background check program covering home health agencies and hospice providers, among others.
Only two out of 11 states that concluded their participation in the program in 2017 and 2018 implemented all the requirements, according to a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report contends the delays were mainly because of a lack of legislative authority for some of the program requirements.
As part of the program, required background checks in participating states must be performed for skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, home health agencies, providers of hospice care, long-term-care hospitals, providers of personal care services, providers of adult day care, residential care providers that arrange for long-term-care services or provide long-term-care services and intermediate-care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Minnesota and West Virginia implemented all the requirements of the program. Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma and Utah employed most of the requirements; while California, Kentucky, Maine and North Carolina implemented some of the requirements.
The OIG report encourages CMS to “take appropriate actions to encourage states to obtain the necessary legislative authority to fully implement program requirements.” No new recommendations were offered by CMS.