Relating to regulatory provisions applicable to care provided in health care facilities and assisted living programs

The bill requires DIA to adopt administrative rules to administer this provision of the bill. The bill also requires DIA, in cooperation with other appropriate agencies, to adopt or amend rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A to allow a nursing student or a graduate nurse with the appropriate level of training to administer medications if the nursing facility documents that the nursing facility has implemented training and supervision measures to ensure the nursing student’s or graduate nurse’s competency in safe medication administration. The bill provides that the rules shall not require the nursing student or graduate nurse to complete a medication course or challenge examination, as is currently required, if the nursing facility meets such requirements. The bill requires DIA to adopt or amend rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A to recognize a person who is a certified nurse aide (CNA) in another state and is able to demonstrate competency in skills and techniques necessary to care for the needs of residents in nursing facilities as required under federal law to become certified in this state without additional requirements for certification. The rules shall also provide for such persons to complete the direct care worker registry application and to be included in the direct care worker registry maintained by DIA. Currently, these CNAs must pass a challenge examination in order to be certified in the state. The bill requires DIA to adopt or amend rules to allow a new assisted living program manager who is currently licensed as a nursing home administrator to complete any required assisted living management class within months of employment rather than within months of employment as is currently required. The bill requires DIA to adopt or amend rules relating to the exit interview at the conclusion of a monitoring evaluation or complaint investigation of an assisted living program to extend the time frame for the program to submit additional or rebuttal information to DIA from working days, as currently required, to working days.