Senate OKs Bill To Undo Anti-Fraud Measures for In-Home Care Program
On Thursday, the state Senate voted 23-16 to approve legislation (SB 930) that would rescind fingerprinting requirements and other anti-fraud measures for California's In-Home Supportive Services program, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports. The senators voted along party lines, with Democrats favoring the measure.
The bill, by Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), would repeal a law that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed in 2009. The earlier legislation requires IHSS caregivers to provide fingerprints on their time sheets (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 5/19). The law also prohibits IHSS caregivers from receiving their payments via post office boxes.
According to Evans, repealing the anti-fraud measures would help reduce state spending by more than $41 million annually.
However, Republican lawmakers criticized Evans' bill, saying it would undo anti-fraud safeguards in IHSS.
The bill now heads to the Assembly (McGreevy, Los Angeles Times, 5/20).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.