California Home Health Survey Prep Checklist
Your survey could come any day. This is exactly what California Department of Social Services (CDSS) surveyors pull from your files — and how to walk in already audit-ready. Free, no signup required.
40 hrs
Initial Training
5 hrs
Annual Training
Every 180 days
Supervision
Required
Fingerprints
What Surveyors Pull From Every Employee File
Have these ready, current, and signed for every staff member before your survey:
- Signed job description matching the role and assigned duties
- Completed application and verified employment history / references
- I-9 employment eligibility verification with supporting documents
- W-4 and signed payroll / direct-deposit authorization
- Government-issued photo ID and Social Security / ITIN record
- Current professional license or certification copy (RN, LPN, CNA, HHA, etc.)
- Signed HIPAA, employee handbook, and policy acknowledgments
- Documented orientation and annual in-service / competency evaluation
See the full breakdown in our guide: What Surveyors Check in Personnel Files.
California Background & Exclusion Screening
Required checks for every staff member (HSC § 1736.5):
- California DOJ Live ScanRequired
- FBI Live Scan FingerprintRequired
- Home Care Services Bureau (HCSB) RegistrationRequired
- Megan's Law (Sex Offender) DatabaseRequired
- OIG Exclusion ListRequired
Don't forget monthly OIG/SAM screening. Medicare/Medicaid agencies must re-check all staff against the federal exclusion lists every month — surveyors ask for the dated screening logs.
Fingerprinting required: Live Scan.
Abuse registry: Check the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) for all staff.
Training, Competency & Supervision Records
- 40 hours of documented initial training per staff member (HSC § 1796.63).
- 5 hours of annual continuing education, with dated completion records.
- Supervisory visit notes documented every 180 days (HSC § 1796.60).
- Signed competency evaluations for each aide/attendant role.
California-Specific Requirements
- Home Care Aide (HCA) Registration required for all aides
- Aides must be registered with HCSB before providing services
California Survey Prep FAQ
What do surveyors check in California home health personnel files?
Surveyors review each employee file for identifying information, a signed job description, verified employment history, license and certification copies, background-check and exclusion-screening results, training and competency documentation, and signed policy acknowledgments. Missing or expired items are among the most common citations.
How often do I need to re-screen staff against the OIG exclusion list in California?
Medicare/Medicaid-participating agencies should screen all staff against the OIG LEIE and SAM.gov exclusion lists monthly, per OIG Special Advisory Bulletin guidance. California also requires California DOJ Live Scan, FBI Live Scan Fingerprint, Home Care Services Bureau (HCSB) Registration, Megan's Law (Sex Offender) Database, OIG Exclusion List.
How many training hours does California require?
California requires 40 initial training hours and 5 annual continuing-education hours (HSC § 1796.63). Supervisory visits are required every 180 days.
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