Report 2010-108 Recommendation 2 Responses
Report 2010-108: Department of Public Health: It Reported Inaccurate Financial Information and Can Likely Increase Revenues for the State and Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Accounts (Release Date: June 2010)
Recommendation #2 To: Public Health, Department of
To increase revenue for the penalty accounts, Public Health should seek legislation authorizing it to revise periodically the penalty amounts to reflect an inflation indicator, such as the CPI.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From June 2018
With the enactment of the 2011 Budget Trailer Bill ABX 1-19, the maximum citation penalty amounts for B citations increased from $1,000, to $2,000. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reviewed the A and AA citation penalties and determined they were adequate. CDPH will not pursue legislation to further increase penalty amounts.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From May 2017
With the enactment of the 2011 Budget Trailer Bill ABX 1-19, the maximum citation penalty amounts for B citations increased from $1,000, to $2,000. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reviewed the A and AA citation penalties and determined they were adequate. CDPH will not pursue legislation to further increase penalty amounts.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From June 2016
With the enactment of the 2011 Budget Trailer Bill ABX 1-19, the maximum citation penalty amounts for B citations increased from $1,000, to $2,000. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reviewed the A and AA citation penalties and determined they were adequate. CDPH will not pursue legislation to further increase penalty amounts.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2015
The status of this recommendation is unchanged.
- Estimated Completion Date: 10/2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014
The status of this recommendation is unchanged.
- Estimated Completion Date: 10/2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2013
With the enactment of the 2011 Budget Trailer Bill ABX 1-19, the maximum citation penalty amounts for B citations increased from $1,000, to $2,000. CDPH reviewed the A and AA citation penalties and determined they were adequate. CDPH will not pursue legislation to further increase penalty amounts.
- Completion Date: July 2011
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
Although the Legislature increased penalty amounts for class B citations for certain facilities, Public Health could also take steps to ensure that penalty amounts for other types of citations increase. For example, if Public Health does not want to seek legislation that would establish an automatic increase in penalty amounts, it could revise its policies and procedures to include a periodic review of penalty amounts and, if the review finds the penalty amounts are too low, Public Health can seek appropriate increases through the legislative process.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2012
A 2011 budget trailer bill (ABX 1-19) increased B citation penalty amounts for skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities at a range not less than $100 and not to exceed $2,000; an increase of the maximum from $1,000 for each citation. All other long-term care facilities were to remain subject to B citation penalty amounts not less than $100 and not to exceed $1,000. Additional statutory changes would be necessary to increase civil money penalty amounts for category AA, A, and B citations for all long-term care facility categories.
In addition, CDPH continues to explore a legislative proposal to adjust citation penalty amounts to reflect inflation using an indicator such as the Consumer Price Index.
- Estimated Completion Date: January 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
All Recommendations in 2010-108
Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.