The California Department of Health has issued an All Facilities Letter regarding criminal record clearance for healthcare facilities, including nursing homes. The letter outlines changes in procedures for criminal record information searches and clearances, prohibiting applicants from having direct contact with clients or residents until the clearance process is completed. This applies to Nurse Assistants, Home Health Aides, and direct care staff in various healthcare settings. The criminal record clearance requirement will become operational once two conditions are met: the Licensing and Certification Program (L&C) must receive 95% of its total responses indicating no evidence of criminal information within three business days, and L&C must process 95% of its total responses requiring disqualification within 45 days of receiving the report. The Department has not yet met these conditions, so the requirement prohibiting direct contact is currently inoperative. The Department will issue another All Facilities Letter when these conditions are met and the requirement becomes operative.

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