Cited from mydesert.com

Benoit seeks background checks to weed out frauds
Bill targets workers who provide state-subsidized aid to elderly, others
City News Service • February 25, 2009

RIVERSIDE — A Coachella Valley lawmaker introduced legislation Tuesday that would require individuals who provide services to the elderly and disabled under state-subsidized programs to undergo background checks to screen out potential fraudsters.

Sen. John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, said SB 246 would mandate that any independent contractor working in the state's In-Home Supportive Services program agree to a background investigation and fingerprint registration.

IHSS is a state-supported program — administered through county Adult Protective Services offices — which extends assistance to low-income elderly residents, most of whom are on Medi- Cal, as well as the disabled.

IHSS caregivers visit patients in private homes, hotels, hospitals or health clinics, providing help with meal preparation, housekeeping, grocery shopping, bathing and grooming, medication dispensation and other domestic services, according to the California Department of Social Services.

Benoit said greater safeguards should be in place to prevent exploitation of the system.

“IHSS care providers have a duty to care for the most vulnerable Californians, seniors and the disabled,” Benoit said.

“Loose oversight of this program endangers these care recipients and opens the door to widespread fraud.

“Losing precious state funds to fraud is unacceptable, especially in a time when the government is increasing taxes and cutting services,” he added.

According to Benoit's office, there have been a number of cases in which individuals used fake Social Security cards to create fictitious welfare recipients, enabling the fraudsters to file claims to cover the cost of services never rendered.

“You could make up that there's some 70-year-old person under such-and-such Social Security number who doesn't really exist and to whom you're providing services,” said Kyle Packham, a legislative analyst for Benoit.

In July, 21 people were charged with welfare fraud in Los Angeles County for alleged abuse of the IHSS system via the theft of more than $2million in state funds, Benoit noted.

The senator said that under his bill, an IHSS care provider would be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal background check by the California Department of Justice before registering with the county in which the person intends to work.