HSB 140

_____ the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to regulatory provisions applicable to care provided in health care facilities and assisted living programs. The bill amends Code provisions relating to certification of medication aides in health care facilities to require the department of inspections and appeals (DIA), in cooperation with other appropriate agencies, to establish a procedure to recognize the credentials of a person who is certified as a medication aide in another state to become certified in this state without additional requirements for certification, including but not limited to the current requirement that the person complete and pass both the certified nurse aide competency examination and the certified medication aide challenge examination. 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 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. _____ 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 program manager or a new delegating nurse to complete any required assisted living management class or assisted living nursing 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.