Tag: background check for nursing homes

Proposed Bill Before Congress Would Grant Nursing Homes Access to Additional Background Check Data A newly introduced bill reaching Congress could soon allow nursing homes access to a U.S. government database to enhance background checks for potential employees. The bill would also reduce roadblocks to in-house training for facilities that have committed safety violations. The bill, reintroduced last week by Senator Mark Warner and Tim Scott, was initially proposed in 2019 as the Ensuring Seniors Access to Quality Care Act; ultimately, the bill failed to pass after referral to the Senate Committee on Finance. As a result, the bill has been updated and returned to the same committee in its current iteration. Nursing homes are not permitted to use the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). The NPDB is a healthcare-specific database maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Because nursing homes do not have access to this, they must conduct standard background checks that are not as extensive as the NPDB offers. Though not a replacement for a thorough background check for healthcare professionals, this database can significantly add healthcare-specific background information, including employer-reported misconduct. Only hospitals, law enforcement, and a short list of others can access this database. Passing the bill will permit nursing homes to access this crucial database and enhance their existing background checks. Also, nursing home facilities that have received citations for specific patient safety violations can continue training certified nursing assistants. Currently, regulations for participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs forbid facilities from training these certified nursing assistants in-house for two years if the fines are greater than $10,000. The bill's sponsors have argued how this regulation can harm nursing home facilities' ability to hire and retrain desperately needed personnel while the need for these workers is still growing. Yet, in the wake of COVID-19, nursing home workers' shortages have increased. According to Senator Warner, this bill will allow these facilities to continue hiring experienced staff to meet their growing staffing needs. This improvement will also ensure nursing homes continue providing consistent, high-quality care. Like all employers responsible for caring for vulnerable populations, nursing home facilities require workers with high safety and trust standards. Thorough background checks play a crucial and central role in guaranteeing applicants meet these high standards, and the proposed bill is the opportunity necessary for ensuring standards are met. Stay updated on all the new rules of compliance with Pre-employ’s free news resources on FCRA, EEOC, and more. Contact a Sales Rep today for more information. Source

Tag: background check for nursing homes

Proposed Bill Before Congress Would Grant Nursing Homes Access to Additional Background Check Data

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