More than 25,000 job applicants were deemed ineligible to work in long-term care through the federal background check program over the last two years. The nationwide number is estimated to be much higher.
A report by the Office of Inspector General assessed the participation of 11 states using the National Background Check Program for Long-Term Care Providers in 2017 and 2018.
A total of 971,039 total background checks were completed by the states, with about 25,600 checks resulting in ineligible LTC job applicants.
Michigan, Minnesota, Utah and Kentucky had the highest percentages of eligibility determinations. Michigan performed nearly 400,000 checks, which was the highest among the states. Georgia completed about 3,200 checks, which was the lowest.
The background check program helps providers identify applicants who are ineligible to work in the LTC industry due to state or federal criminal histories.
The report also found that just two states fully implemented program requirements.
From the October 2019 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
