Following similar actions of other state and federal agencies, home care agencies in Ohio may soon be able to see the criminal history of their employees via a fingerprinting database included in the state’s governor’s review plan, reports Cleveland.com.
If passed, Governor John Kasich’s mid-biennium review plan would allow home care agencies within the state to receive real-time employee alerts from the Retained Applicant Fingerprint Database Information Exchange.
The RAPBACK system, as it is referred to in the article, is targeting an initial group of direct-care companies in a pilot program involving about 20 home- and community-based services providers beginning in July.
Home health care workers in Ohio are required by state law to undergo a new background check at least once every five years after they have been hired.
Governor Kasich’s inclusion of the fingerprint provision is the latest progress Ohio has made to implementing finger printing procedures home health workers operating in the state.
Last year, the state received a $1.2 million federal grant, along with $700,000 in state funds, to help home health care employers gain access to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation fingerprint database.
Ohio joins Pennsylvania, which in 2012 made electronic fingerprinting a requirement for people who work in home and long-term care settings.
Similar moves have already been made at the federal level.
In December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said they were in the process of contracting with a company to conduct fingerprint background checks—a screening move also allowed by the Department of Health and Human Service to help combat Medicaid fraud.
Read more about background checks for Ohio home care workers.
Written by Jason Oliva
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