Press Release from Ed Hatchett,
Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts
Release Date: February
3, 2000
Subject: Home Health Abuse Registry Promoted
Online at: http://www.auditor.ky.gov/ |
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Auditor of Public Accounts
144 Capitol Annex
Frankfort, KY 40601
Contact:
Harold McKinney
Legal Counsel
Phone 502-573-0050
FAX 502-573-0067
APA.PressReleases@auditor.ky.gov |
| (Frankfort Feb.
3, 2000) The Cabinet for Health Services will maintain a
registry of verified complaints against home healthcare aides if HB 421 introduced by Rep
Ruth Ann Palumbo (D-Fayette) becomes law. Rep Palumbo introduced the bill after a
performance audit released last year by State Auditor Ed Hatchett noted the absence of
such a registry and recommended its creation. "I want to do everything I can to
protect those who depend upon home healthcare workers," Representative Palumbo said.
"The Cabinet already maintains a nurse aide abuse registry, and it appears to work
well, so this will extend protection to a group of consumers who may now be at risk."
"We are pleased to work with Representative Palumbo to improve the safeguards for
those citizens who invite healthcare workers into their homes," said Hatchett.
"Once again, our performance auditing may bring about an improvement in public
protection, and that's what our work is supposed to do. We applaud Representative
Palumbo's efforts."
Hatchett said HB 421 grew out of a 1999 performance audit conducted by his office in
conjunction with the National State Auditors Association. Titled "Monitoring of
Medicaid Home Health Care Needs Improvement," the audit assessed the cost, quality,
and oversight of home health care providers by state government. |