SACRAMENTO – In January 2014, media reports of a massive 10,000 complaint backlog over allegations of abuse and neglect in California’s nursing homes prompted a Joint Oversight Hearing co-chaired with the Assembly Health Committee and Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care.  

Following departmental testimony admitting to this large number of uninvestigated cases, in March Yamada sought a review by the California state auditor.

Last week, in an extensive report delivered to the governor and the Legislature, the state auditor substantiated systemic and statewide deficiencies in the complaints investigation process for California’s long-term health care facilities, with multiple recommendations for reform.

“The California Department of Public Health (DPH) is responsible for licensing and monitoring 2,500 long-term health care facilities, serving 300,000 of California’s poorest and frailest citizens, two-thirds of whom are women,” said Assemblymember Yamada. “The facts in the California state auditor’s report show that resident well-being in our state’s long-term health care facilities continue to be at serious risk.”

Citing lack of resources to conduct timely investigations, the report found that DPH took no action – such as a staffing analysis – to justify additional funding. 

In four DPH District Offices selected for review, including Sacramento, San Francisco, Bakersfield and Riverside, the audit found wide inconsistencies in tracking complaints.  

With the backlogged cases now numbering 11,000, DPH continues to resist establishing statewide standards for completing investigations, evidenced by its Oct. 3, response to the state audit report.

“Ignoring both legislative and industry calls for reform compelled me to ask for this state audit,” said Yamada. “With this report by the well-respected California state auditor and pending lawsuits, I call upon the governor and the incoming Legislature to act quickly to provide redress to the most vulnerable elders in our care.”

Yamada represents the Fourth Assembly District and all or parts of the counties of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo. She has been chair of the Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee since 2010.