The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued an interim evaluation report on an Affordable Care Act (ACA) program that provides grants to states to implement background check programs for prospective long-term care employees. According to OIG, 25 states currently are participating in the program at different stages (for instance, some have not yet
background checks
CMS Issues Guidance to States on Medicaid/CHIP Provider Fingerprint-Based Criminal Background Checks
By Debra A. McCurdy on
On June 1, 2015, CMS provided additional guidance to state Medicaid directors on implementation of fingerprint-based criminal background checks (FCBCs) as a component of ACA Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP provider screening requirements. CMS stipulates that states have 60 days from the date of the letter to begin implementation of the FCBC requirement, and implementation…
OIG Reviews HHA Background Check Policies
By Debra A. McCurdy on
In response to a Congressional request, the OIG has reviewed the extent to which home health agencies (HHAs) have employed individuals with criminal convictions and whether state requirements should have disqualified such individuals from HHA employment. The OIG points out that there are no federal requirements that HHAs conduct background checks on employees, and state…
CMS Fingerprint-Based Background Checks are Underway – Impacting “High-Risk” Providers and Suppliers
By Debra A. McCurdy on
CMS’s long-awaited fingerprint-based background check screening process is underway for certain “high-risk” providers and suppliers participating in federal health care programs (specifically, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program). Under CMS regulations, individuals who maintain a 5 percent or greater direct or indirect ownership interest in a provider or supplier in the high risk…
OIG Report Summarizes State Requirements for HHA Employee Background Checks
By Debra A. McCurdy on
The OIG has issued a report, requested by Congress, that identifies state background check requirements for home health agencies (HHAs) and describes the types of criminal convictions that disqualify individuals for employment by HHAs under such state policies. OIG observes that the data might be useful to CMS as it administers the Nationwide Background Check…
CMS to Implement Fingerprint-Based Background Checks for High-Risk Providers and Suppliers in 2014
More than three years after publication of final regulations to implement Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions that strengthen provider and supplier enrollment screening provisions under federal health care programs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected a Fingerprint-Based Background Check Contractor and intends to phase in fingerprint-based background checks beginning in 2014.
Continue Reading CMS to Implement Fingerprint-Based Background Checks for High-Risk Providers and Suppliers in 2014