Background Checks

Minnesota has granted waivers for 15,000 people with criminal backgrounds seeking to work in the state's long-term care facilities, a new report finds.

Certified nursing assistants and home health aides will continue to be in huge demand, but a lack of training and low pay could mean a labor crisis for nursing facilities, home health agencies and even hospitals, according to a joint report from Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post.

State Sen. Patricia Miller (R) plans to introduce legislation mandating nurse background checks. The move is in response to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels's (R) decision not to pursue federal matching grants for nurse background checks in nursing homes.

Nursing home caregivers, residents and representatives from national healthcare organizations gathered in Kennebunkport, ME, Wednesday. They came to send a petition to state lawmakers urging them not to cut Medicare funding for nursing homes.