INDUSTRY NEWS
Kentucky governor signs emergency regulation to require background checks for long-term care providers
On Nov. 20, 2015, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear signed 906 KAR 1:190E, an emergency regulation which will require the following care providers to obtain fingerprint-supported State and National background checks on new employees:
- Long-term care facilities, including nursing facilities, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, Alzheimer’s nursing homes, personal care homes and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (excludes family care homes);
- Nursing pools providing staff to long-term care facilities;
- Adult day health care programs;
- Assisted-living communities;
- Home health agencies;
- Personal services agencies;
- Providers of hospice care, including residential hospice providers; and
- Providers of home and community-based services.
Effective Jan. 1, 2016, providers will need to enroll in KARES—an online portal which facilitates the pre-employment background check process—in order to obtain renewed licenses. This online portal creates a single sign-on point where an employer is able to store pre-employment background check information and receive notifications on applicant information.
For additional information on the Kentucky National Background Check Program, please see the press release from Gov. Beshear's office and the FAQS published by the KARES program.
Source: Kentucky.gov, 11/20/2015