MO HB544

Establishes a background screening and employment eligibility determination process for long-term care workers under section 210.904, requiring criminal history disclosure, family care safety registry screening, and state/federal fingerprint-based background checks prior to direct access to patients or residents.

Expands the definition of "elder-care provider" and "elder-care worker" to "long-term care provider" and "long-term care worker" to include operators licensed under chapter 198, in-home services providers, health care staffing agencies, home health agencies, mental health facilities, and adult day-care providers.

Prohibits payment of state and federal financial assistance for personal care services provided by attendants with disqualifying findings on background checks unless a good cause waiver is granted by the department of health and senior services.

Allows provisional employment of applicants who pass initial background screening without disqualifying findings, but requires completion of state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks within thirty days of hire and prohibits unsupervised direct access during provisional period.

Effective date of September 12, 2012, with implementation of telephone tracking systems for service delivery verification required by July 1, 2015.