Good Cause Waiver

If a background check blocks you from working in a Missouri healthcare or caregiving job, a Good Cause Waiver can lift that hiring restriction. This page explains how to apply for the waiver and prove you can safely work with patients, children, or seniors.

Certain providers licensed or regulated with the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) need to do a background check before they hire a care worker. Some of these providers need to check the Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR).

Care workers who have a crime listed in Section 192.2495.6 are banned from working in a regulated nursing home, hospital, adult day care or hospice. Care workers who have an FCSR finding listed in Section 192.2495.7 are banned from working in a home health agency or in-home services provider or consumer directed services program under contract with the DHSS. Banned care workers may apply for a Good Cause Waiver (GCW). An approved GCW does not remove the finding but allows the person to be employed.

Has An Application Been Submitted?

Check to see if someone has submitted a Good Cause Waiver application.

Application Status

Applications & Forms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Good Cause Waiver (GCW)?

Information in your background may not allow you to work in some healthcare fields. You may be able to apply for a Good Cause Waiver. If you can show “good cause” in your application, the hiring ban may be lifted.

Who is not eligible to apply for a Good Cause Waiver (GCW)?

A care worker currently on the Department of Health and Senior Services Employee Disqualification List (EDL) is not eligible for a GCW.

How To Apply

Important: If your application is not complete, it will not be reviewed. Check you have included all required papers before you send it in.

To ask for a Good Cause Waiver from the Department of Health and Senior Services, you will need to:

Complete and sign a Good Cause Waiver form. Or call the Good Cause Waiver Program toll-free at 1-866-422-6872 to have a packet mailed or emailed to you.
Complete a Background Screening Finding Explanation form for every arrest or event. The explanation should include:
- What happened
- How it happened
- Why it happened
- When and where it happened
- Who was there
- Your point of view of the event
- Explain why you believe your Good Cause Waiver should be approved
Include a letter of support from a past or current employer. This letter should explain how long the person has known you and why they believe you should get a Good Cause Waiver. Or you can send three letters from people who know you well and can discuss you and your job history. These letters should not be from family members or anyone who lives with you.
Include an Employment History form that lists your past jobs starting from when you were 18 years old.
Include (if needed):
Copies of the report(s) for each case where child abuse or neglect was found. These reports are about 10 pages long. To request a copy, contact the Department of Social Services (DSS) Document Management Unit (DMU). Visit Requesting Personal Records or Information and select:
- Records Request Center
- Submit a Records Request
- Personal Records Request
- Create an account
  - Mark request is for a Good Cause Waiver
  - Scan in your drivers license
Descriptions and charging papers for any pending offense.
Explain any pending charges of child abuse or neglect. These charges could lead to your name being added to the DSS Central Registry for Child Abuse/Neglect or the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) or Department of Mental Health (DMH) disqualification lists.
If you have had any punishment for a professional license or registration, explain that event.
Any papers you think will help your request for a Good Cause Waiver (GCW) by showing you have changed for the better or made positive changes to your life.

As an employer, who do I contact if a Good Cause Waiver is needed or if a worker can be hired?

Employers have the power to decide who they hire and fire. They also need to follow the rules set by the agency that gives them their license or oversees their operations. If there are questions about hiring, contact the licensing or quality control team that works with the employer.

Consumer Directed Services: Contact Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance (MMAC) at 573-751-3399.
Learn more about Consumer Directed Services.
In-Home Services: Contact Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance (MMAC) at 573-751-3399.
Learn more about In-Home Services.
Long Term Care and Adult Day Care: Contact your regional staff or 573-526-8524.
Learn more about Long Term Care / Adult Day Care.
Hospitals: 573-751-6303.
Learn more about Health Services Regulation.
Home Health & Hospice: 573-751-6336.
Learn more about Home Health and Hospice .

As an employer how can I find out the current status of a Good Cause Waiver (GCW)?

It is the employer’s job to find out if a GCW is required. If you are not sure if a GCW is needed, contact the agency that licenses or regulates the care provider.

An employer can check the status of a GCW in one of these ways:

Call the FCSR phone line at 1-866-422-6872. You will need to give the person's full name and social security number.
Check online to see if an application has been submitted. You will need the person's full name and social security number.
- Select the "Good Cause Waiver" tab
- Select "Waiver Status" from the menu
- Enter the person's social security number to see if a GCW has been submitted.
- Select the "More Info" button to ask for the waiver to be verified.

What if an application is not complete?

If your application is not complete, it will take longer to review. You will get a letter that tells you what is missing from your application.

What information is looked at when reviewing a Good Cause Waiver request?

A group of experts will look over the information the person applying sent in. They will make their decision based on:

The age of the person when they committed the crime or when the event occurred that caused their name to be on the background check lists.
The details about the crime or event.
How long ago the conviction or event happened.
How long ago the person completed their punishment for the crime(s) that prevent them from being eligible, whether they were in jail, released with rules, on parole, or on probation.
The full history of past crimes and events that caused the person to be on any Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) background check list. Does the history show a repeated pattern of offenses or events?
The person's previous work experience.
If the person used to work for a provider and was in good standing but then could not be hired because of a finding.
If the person has been found guilty of a crime, or has admitted they are guilty, for something showing extreme violence or a lack of care for people's well-being or safety.
If the person left out or lied about their criminal record, job history, or past incidents that led to them being listed in the background check databases.
If the person has ever been on the Employee Disqualification List that the department keeps, as explained in section 192.2490 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.
Whether the person committed the crimes or events while they were working as a provider or for a provider.
If the person for a job was not allowed to work for a company and then got a job by lying.
If the person has ever had a professional license, official certification, or registration taken away, put on hold, or faced other penalty.
If the work history or past behavior of the person suggests they may put the health, safety, or well-being of clients at risk.
If the person has given all the information the department asked for.

If someone asks for a waiver, or while the waiver is reviewed, they may be accused of a crime listed in section 192.2495 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. If this happens the department will not review the waiver request. It will stay paused while the charges are ongoing, or until a court makes a decision.

What affects the timeframe for decisions on Good Cause Waiver (GCW) applications?

Panelists take a lot of information into consideration during the review of a complete GCW application. They carefully look at everything to waive the hiring rules set by state law. Applications are looked at in the order they come in.

How will I find out the decision about my good cause waiver?

A group of experts will review all complete GCW applications. People who applied will get a letter in the mail telling them what the decision is.

If your application for a Good Cause Waiver (GCW) is not approved can you apply again?

Yes, you can apply again one year after your application was denied.

Laws and Regulations

192.2495, RSMo

19 CSR 30-82.060

Family Care Safety Registry

Contact Information

Applications & Forms

Related Links

Frequently Asked Questions