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Reducing Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities is Goal
of Test Program to Improve Hiring
July 24, 2004 A pilot program aimed at combating
abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities by improving background
checks of potential employees was announced yesterday by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The program, mandated by the Medicare Modernization
Act (MMA), sets aside $25 million to fund the pilots and evaluate the
results. The pilot programs will operate in up to 10 states and will
run until the end of fiscal 2007.
This new Medicare law enables us to take another
step to assure the safety and quality of care that is provided to people
living in nursing homes, said Administrator Mark B. McClellan. This
pilot program will give potential employers valuable tools to help them
determine whether an applicant is the best person for the job.
The pilot programs will help identify best
practices for long term care providers to determine whether a job
seeker has any kind of criminal history or other disqualifying
background that could make them unsuitable to work directly with
patients. The programs also support the Bush administrations goal of
improving the quality of care provided in nursing homes and other such
facilities.
Long-term care facilities and providers in
participating states will include nursing homes, home health agencies,
hospices, long-term care hospitals, intermediate care facilities for
persons with mental retardation, and other entities that provide
long-term care services.
The background check for each prospective employee
will include a check of state registries, such as the Nurse Aide
Registry, as well as a search of state and criminal history records.
CMS is working together with the Justice Department to implement this
program.
All states are eligible to apply for grant funds
and may use the money to implement a comprehensive background check
program, or to improve upon their existing program. At least one state
must also include patient abuse prevention training for managers and
employees of long-term care facilities and providers as part of their
program. CMS hopes to announce the pilot participants in the fall of
2004.
We are also taking further steps to equip such
workers with the proper training and other tools they need to be
effective caregivers, he added.
The solicitation notice for state applications was
posted today by CMS. States can download the application forms at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/survey-cert/bcp.asp Applications are
due by September 30.
Questions about the background check program, can
be e-mailed to backgroundchecks@cms.hhs.gov.
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