Report 2020-109 Recommendation 9 Responses
Report 2020-109: In-Home Supportive Services Program; It Is Not Providing Needed Services to All Californians Approved for the Program, Is Unprepared for Future Challenges, and Offers Low Pay to Caregivers (Release Date: February 2021)
Recommendation #9 To: Kern County
To help ensure that recipients receive prompt approval for services and also receive all approved services, Kern County should, by August 2021 and annually thereafter, complete required plans that include, at a minimum, specific provisions for how it will ensure prompt approval of services and that recipients promptly receive the approved services.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022
As part of its corrective action plan for the IHSS State Audit, Kern submitted its IHSS Annual Plan last year as directed. Upon submitting the plan, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informed us not to submit the plan as it was no longer required. As a result, Kern is following the most recent direction provided by CDSS regarding no longer requiring counties to submit an annual IHSS plan.
The County of Kern continues to collaborate with CDSS to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation regarding the specific actions the county takes to ensure prompt approval and receipt of IHSS services. Kern also participates in regular quality assurance monitoring conducted by the State, which includes reviewing application processing, assessing recipients and authorizing hours correctly, conducting reassessments timely, etc. Kern is currently in compliance with all state requirements and continues to seek ways to improve service delivery to the providers and recipients of the IHSS program.
- Completion Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Kern County has indicated that based on guidance from Social Services, it will not comply with state law requiring it to submit a plan that helps ensure provision of services to all eligible recipients each month in accordance with the county plan. We rebut Social Services' assertion that such a planning is not required on page 69 of report 2020-109.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
1-Year Agency Response
Kern County did not submit a 1 year response.
- Estimated Completion Date: unknown
- Response Date: March 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From February 2022
In August of 2021, the Department submitted its annual IHSS plan to the Kern County Board of Supervisors as recommended in the State Audit. The plan was also submitted to California Department of Social Services. The plan included various measures to improve the Department's ability to provide prompt services to IHSS consumers.
Throughout the upcoming year, Kern will continue to evaluate its operations in an effort to continuously improve its promptness in providing IHSS services.
- Completion Date: February 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Kern County submitted an annual plan for review in August of 2021. A new plan will be due in August of 2022. We look forward to reviewing that plan to determine whether this recommendation is fully implemented.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
6-Month Agency Response
Kern County has completed its annual plan. Kern will implement the activities listed in the plan over the next year to help improve services and to ensure that recipients promptly receive the approved services.
- Estimated Completion Date: August 2022
- Response Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented
Kern County submitted an annual plan for review. We look forward to reviewing future documentation about its implementation.
60-Day Agency Response
Unless otherwise directed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Kern is in the process of developing its an annual plan as recommended in the report. It will be submitted to CDSS prior to August of 2021, and annually thereafter. The plan will include a description of how we will ensure that services are promptly approved and that recipients promptly receive the approved services that recipients promptly receive the approved services.
- Estimated Completion Date: August 2021
- Response Date: April 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2020-109
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.