Report 2011-119 Recommendation 1 Responses
Report 2011-119: Physical Therapy Board of California: Although It Can Make Improvements, It Generally Processes Complaints and Monitors Conflict-of-Interest Requirements Appropriately (Release Date: June 2012)
Recommendation #1 To: Physical Therapy Board
The physical therapy board should explore the feasibility of establishing a state position to perform the duties of its current in-house consultant at a reduced cost.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2016
Please refer to our response dated 9/11/2015.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2016
On 9/11/2015, the Physical Therapy Board of California requested this matter be concluded.
In response to the BSA's recommendation, the Board staff met with the Department of Consumer Affairs, Office of Human Resources (DCA-OHR) to discuss the feasibility of establishing a state position to perform the duties of its current in-house consultant at a reduced cost. As a result, the Board was advised by the DCA-OHR this proposal is not feasible for a number of reasons that are further explained in the attached documents supplied to the auditor on 9/11/15.
After exploring the feasibility, the Board and DCA-OHR agree that the proposal to establish the Physical Therapy Consultant as a civil service employee is not a feasible course of action, nor practical expenditure of resources (reference DCA-OHR memo dated 2/11/14).
The Board has no further updates to report at this time.
- Completion Date: August 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015
The Physical Therapy Board staff met with the Department of Consumer Affairs' Human Resources Office (OHR) to discuss the feasibility of the Auditor's proposal. As a result, the Board was advised this proposal is not feasible for a number of reasons that are further explained in the attached documents supplied to the auditor.
After exploring the feasibility, the Board and DCA OHR agree that the proposal to establish the Physical Therapy Consultant as a civil service employee is not a feasible course of action, nor practical expenditure of resources. Therefore, the Board is requesting this matter be concluded.
- Completion Date: October 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Currently Feasible
The Department of Consumer Affairs' Office of Human Resources (OHR) determined that establishing a state position to perform the duties of the Physical Therapy Board's in-house consultant is not feasible because of the difficulty in establishing a new classification. OHR stated that this would be difficult because the State is actively working to reduce the number of state classifications. OHR also concluded that a new civil service classification could not support a salary that would attract qualified candidates.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014
The Physical Therapy Board staff met with the Department of Consumer Affairs' Human Resources Office (OHR) to discuss the feasibility of the Auditor's proposal. As a result, the Board was advised this proposal is not feasible for a number of reasons that are further explained in the attached documents supplied to the auditor.
After exploring the feasibility, the Board and DCA OHR agree that the proposal to establish the Physical Therapy Consultant as a civil service employee is not a feasible course of action, nor practical expenditure of resources. Therefore, the Board is requesting this matter be concluded.
- Estimated Completion Date:
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
According to the Physical Therapy Board's Executive Officer, the Department of Consumer Affairs' Human Resources Office (OHR) advised the Physical Therapy Board that establishing a state position to perform the duties of the current in-house consultant is not feasible. He stated that OHR does not believe that a new civil service classification (with a higher salary than the existing classifications) could support a salary that would attract qualified candidates. However, he stated that the Physical Therapy Board has significantly reduced the use of its in-house consultant as an alternative cost saving measure.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2013
As noted in our previous responses to this issue, the board continues to explore the feasibility of establishing a civil service position to perform the duties of the in-house consultant. Due to the lengthy state process required to establish new positions, we do not expect to complete this process until July 2015.
In March 2013, as previously noted, the board reduced expenditures under the in-house contract by 50% through streamlining processes, decreasing the need for the consultant services.
- Estimated Completion Date: July 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
As previously stated, the Board has limited resources to conduct the extensive process presented by the Department of Consumer Affairs', Human Resources Office (OHR) on November 1, 2012 regarding the timeline of establishing a civil service position to perform the duties of the Board's in-house expert consultant.
Meanwhile, the Board has reduced its cost of its in-house expert consultant services.
In March 2013, the Board executed an abbreviated contract in lieu of its in-house Expert Consultant Contract for its in-house expert consultant services. As a result, the Board reduced its expenditures from $54,200 to $27,000, a significant savings of $27,200 (as of June, 2013).
The Board, in cooperation with the Department of Consumer Affairs, will continue its efforts to explore the feasibility of establishing a civil service position to perform the duties of its current in-house consultant.
- Completion Date: March 2013
- Response Date: July 2013
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
The Physical Therapy Board is continuing to explore the feasibility of establishing a civil service position to perfrom the duties of its in-house consultant. The Physical Therapy Board pays its in-house consultant $75 an hour under the new abbreviated contract, which is the same hourly rate that it paid this individual under the prior contract. According to the Physical Therapy Board's manager of administrative, application, and licensing programs, the board reduced the cost associated with its in-house consultant by streamlining its processes to decrease the need for the in-house consultant's services.
6-Month Agency Response
The physical therapy board reported that it is attempting to establish a civil service position to perform the duties of its current in-house consultant. However, the physical therapy board stated that this is an involved and lengthy process that it does not expect to complete until July 2015. As an interim solution, the physical therapy board stated that it is considering negotiating a new contract at a reduced rate when the current contract with the in-house consultant expires in March 2013. (See 2013-406, p. 49)
- Response Date: December 2012
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2011-119
Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.