Convicted Criminals Hired By Over 90 Percent Of Nursing Homes

A recent report conducted by the government shows that over 90 percent of nursing homes in America employ workers with a criminal past. The first step is to recognize the problem and and the second is to solve it. Obama's health care bill contains a possible solution for this problem.

CBS News - KBZK

More than 90 percent of nursing homes hired employees with criminal convictions, according to a new government report obtained by CBS News.

Government investigators ran background checks on all workers who were employed on June 1, 2009 at 260 nursing homes across the country. The results showed 92 percent of the facilities hired at least one employee with a criminal conviction.

The report, by the Inspector General for Health and Human Services, also says that at nearly half of the nursing homes, "five or more individuals" with criminal backgrounds were hired.

Forty-three states require nursing homes to conduct some kind of criminal background check. But, only ten states require both a state and FBI background check that would detect convictions in multiple states.

"On its face, it's shocking," said Janet Wells, director of public policy for the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. She added, "People move from state to state and they may have an abuse record at another health care facility, that's why we would prefer to see a national mandatory program."

The new Obama health care law created a national program for states to standardize federal and state background checks for nursing home employees who interact with residents, but state participation is optional. Ten states including Florida and Missouri have received federal funds to begin implementing the new program. The government picks up the cost of conducting background checks.

"There are still potentially dangerous gaps in the system used to determine who will be responsible for providing care for many people during vulnerable points in their lives," said AARP spokesman Jim Dau in a statement to CBS News. He added that while the new health care law is an improvement, "more should be done to build on this work."

Full article at kbzk.com