Caregiver background check rules in Arizona

Yes. Arizona requires a criminal background check before a caregiver works with clients. For ALTCS work, agencies must run a nationwide criminal background check at hire and every three years, and search the APS and DCS registries at hire and every year. Workers with convictions listed in A.R.S. 41-1758.03(B) or (C) or a substantiated APS or DCS report may not serve ALTCS members; agencies subject to fingerprint clearance card laws are presumed to meet the criminal check.

What does the check include?

What should you confirm with the state?

The training and background rules shown are AHCCCS (Medicaid ALTCS) requirements; private-pay non-medical agencies have no state license. A fingerprint clearance card is required only in some settings, such as DDD subcontractors, so confirm whether it applies to your agency with AHCCCS.

What other checks should you run?

Agencies that bill Medicaid or Medicare should also check the HHS Office of Inspector General exclusion list before hire and monthly, because payments for services by an excluded person can be recovered. If you use a background screening company, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires written disclosure and the applicant's authorization first.