State Background Check Requirements for Home Health Agencies.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) surveyed state officials, including the District of Columbia, to identify state requirements for home health agencies (HHA) to conduct background checks on potential employees.  The study found that 41 states require HHAs to conduct background checks on prospective employees.  Of the 10 remaining, 4 states have no plans to implement background checks.  Of the 41 states, 15 states require HHAs to receive the results before individuals begin employment.  Further, 35 states specify convictions that would disqualify individuals from employment, and 16 states allow the opportunity to waive a disqualifying conviction.

The OIG noted that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may use this information in administering its Nationwide Background Check Program, which awards grants to states that voluntarily conduct background checks on prospective “direct patient access” employees.

The OIG report on state background check requirements is available at:

https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-07-14-00131.pdf.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.  “State Requirements for Conducting Background Checks on Home Health Agency Employees.”  OEI-07-14-00131.  30 May 2014.