California’s Assisted Living Oversight Lacks Public Transparency
Californians seeking care for themselves or loved ones face a significant hurdle: the state does not publicly disclose a list of individuals banned from operating assisted living facilities. This lack of transparency, confirmed by the California Department of Social Services (DSS), leaves families vulnerable.
A decade ago, a state bill aimed at creating a publicly accessible online database of banned individuals failed in Sacramento. Christine Murphy, former executive director of Consumer Advocates for RCFE Reform, recalls officials citing concerns about potential misidentification due to common names.
DSS licensing officials also argued that internal checks during the licensing process negated the need for public disclosure. However, this system relies on inter-agency information sharing, which is not always effective.
DSS provides monthly spreadsheets of banned individuals to agencies like the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). While CDPH acknowledges it could consider this information during licensing or administrator changes, it admits to not routinely checking these lists during license renewals.
CDPH does offer an online database where users can search for health facility affiliations by name.1 However, it does not confirm the identity of individuals, leaving consumers to determine if a “John Smith” in their search is the same “John Smith” banned by DSS.
“Consumers depend on the licensing agencies to do that level of vetting,” asserts Eric Carlson of Justice in Aging. He criticized the current system, emphasizing that the burden of investigative work should not fall on families.
In response to inquiries from The Times, CDPH stated it is “reviewing our processes to improve oversight” and ensure the validity of applicant information. They are also investigating specific facilities mentioned by The Times and considering potential action.
The lack of a readily accessible public list leaves a critical gap in consumer protection, highlighting the need for greater transparency in California’s assisted living oversight.