To be fair, there is no state agency or public service group that has ever been accused of implementing new policy with blazing speed. It i also fair to say that California is not the exception to this practice. In fact,with the economy in such a downturn and with the State of California in need of money, it is remarkable on any given day that anything gets done at all.
But now there is a furor over Governor Schwarzenegger’s laudable policy to conduct background checks on any prospective employee working as an in-home healthcare attendant. Advocacy groups and politicians alike are asking for a delay, claiming the state agencies are by no means ready to undergo this massive task, which was part of the $5 Billion anti-fraud measure passed last summer. The groups are claiming implementing this program will cause serious delays for people in need of assisted healthcare. It will greatly impact the elderly and disabled, this groups maintain.
On the other hand, Lizelda Lopez, spokes person for the Department of Social Services has claimed this should come as no surprise to the counties. Lopez claims the Department has been working for months with the different counties, helping them to prepare for this background checking program.
It’s a tough call and a complex situation. Perhaps the background checks can be outsourced to the private sector. After all, prisons are managed by the private center, so why not something a lot less intense like background checks? Considering the fraud issues where in-house workers con the elderly and disabled out fo their money, the theft, the physical injury considerations, criminal history records at least should be mandated.
But there is the political issue. Healthcare, in-house or otherwise, is a growth industry. In a state that needs money, and with people in the state who need jobs, curtailing employment through background checks is bound to meet with resistance. Unions and political interest groups have to be less than thrilled. Politicians who are supported by these unions and political interest groups need to help out their boosters. It all becomes a sticky situation.
It will be interesting to see how this program unfolds.
Check them out before you hire.
