Federal Background Check Pilot Program

Pilot ends September 30, 2007
Last data report is due October 23, 2007
Information on Background Check Pilot Close - Down (PDF, 35 KB) 

Background

The Federal Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 created a pilot program to test whether establishing federal fingerprint-based background checks can reduce the incidence of abuse, neglect and misappropriation of resident funds. Affected providers follow a seven step Pilot Background Check Process.

The pilot also studies the new policy's affordability, feasibility and effectiveness relative to alternative strategies for abuse and neglect prevention training, as well as the occurrence of any unintended consequences, such as a reduction in the available workforce.

Background Check Pilot Entities and Counties:

Wisconsin's pilot requires long term care entities:

• nursing homes
• long-term care hospitals
• intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation
• hospices
• home health agencies
• community based residential facilities housing more than 9 persons
• personal care worker agencies to conduct fingerprint-based federal background checks in four counties:

• Dane from March 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007
• Kenosha from March 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007
• La Crosse from February 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007
• Shawano from March 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007

Background Check Pilot Overview Information:

Wisconsin Federal Background Check Pilot Program (PDF, 31 KB) - Updated 1/4/06 - Includes timeframes, requirements, process and procedure information

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Background Check Pilot Program (exit DHFS) - Includes information on the federal pilot

Senator Kohl's Special Committee on Aging (exit DHFS) - Includes information on how Senator Kohl sponsored the legislation which funded the federal Caregiver Background Check Pilot

Background Check Pilot Questions and Answers:

• Wisconsin Federal Background Check Pilot Question and Answer - Answers most common questions asked about pilot

Background Check Pilot Training and Materials:

• Wisconsin Federal Background Check Technical Training (PDF, 619 KB) - Updated 1/18/06 - Power Point presentation given at Technical Trainings in four pilot counties
• Pilot Background Check Process
• Links and Resources

Background Check Pilot Hiring Data:

• Spreadsheets with hiring data for caregivers covered by pilot
• Webcast Training on Data Collection Process (Webcast, help)

Contact:

Shari Busse
Director, Office of Caregiver Quality
busseSE@dhfs.state.wi.us
(608) 264-9876
(608) 264-6340 fax

Abuse and Neglect Prevention Training:

• The Wisconsin Caregiver Project (exit DHFS)

Contacts for Questions:

Jan Navis
Phone: (608) 264-6748
Fax: (608) 264-6340
Email: navisjh@dhfs.state.wi.us

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Last Revised: June 30, 2008