Report 2006-106 Recommendation 2 Responses

Report 2006-106: Department of Health Services: Its Licensing and Certification Division Is Struggling to Meet State and Federal Oversight Requirements for Skilled Nursing Facilities (Release Date: April 2007)

Recommendation #2 To: Health Services, Department of

To fill its authorized positions and manage its federal and state workloads, Health Services should consider working with the Department of Personnel Administration to adjust the salaries of its staff to make them more competitive with those of other state agencies seeking similarly qualified candidates. In addition, Health Services may want to consider hiring qualified candidates who are not registered nurses.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From December 2012

CDPH has partially implemented this recommendation. CDPH partially agrees with BSAs recommendation to fill its authorized positions and manage its federal and state workloads, Health Services should consider working with the Department of Personnel Administration to adjust the salaries of its staff to make them more competitive with those of other state agencies seeking similarly qualified candidates. CDPH disagrees that In addition, Health Services may want to consider hiring qualified candidates who are not registered nurses.

In cooperation with the California Department of Human Recourses (CalHR), CDPH finalizing revisions to the job specifications for nurse surveyors, supervisors, and managers. CalHR anticipates that the revision package will be heard by the State Personnel Board in early 2013. If approved, the revisions will align the salaries of the surveyors, supervisors, and managers and establish continuity and a promotion path that will lead to better retention of staff.

Nurse staff provides critical clinical expertise needed in the surveying process to ensure the health and safety of the residents in regulated health facilities. Therefore, CDPH disagrees with the BSA recommendation to consider hiring qualified candidates who are not registered nurses.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

We have noted that CDPH has worked with CalHR and has considered, but declined, to hire candidates other than registered nurses. CDPH has addressed the intent of our recommenadtion, and we consider this issue to be closed.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2012

CDPH has partnered with the Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) on the Health Facilities Evaluator reclassification project that aligns the pay structure of surveyors, supervisors, and managers to make them more competitive with other state agencies seeking similarly qualified candidates. The project has aggressive timelines and is moving towards completion. CDPH and DPA completed review of the reclassification package, which involved extensive field interviews and data/salary analysis in preparation for State Personnel Board (SPB) action in fall 2012. In preparation for SPB's action, CDPH and DPA are reaching out to labor relations to affirm the proposed changes affecting the bargaining units. If SPB approves the project in its entirety, we anticipate implementing the realignment of the pay structure in spring 2013.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2006-106

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.