HB 834

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE MEDICATION AIDE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF MEDICATION AIDES BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO PROVIDE THAT A MEDICATION AIDE MAY PARTICIPATE IN MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION WHEN CERTIFIED THROUGH A MEDICATION AIDE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT AND GENERALLY MANAGED BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL AT A NURSING FACILITY; TO SPECIFY THE MINIMUM COMPETENCIES FOR A MEDICATION AIDE; TO SPECIFY THE COMPONENTS OF A MEDICATION AIDE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, WHICH MAY BE OFFERED BY TECHNICAL OR COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYED AT A NURSING FACILITY; TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO COMPLETE MEDICATION AIDE CERTIFICATION TRAINING AND PASS AN EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO BE CERTIFIED; TO REQUIRE EACH FACILITY OPERATOR USING CERTIFIED MEDICATION AIDES TO HAVE A WRITTEN POLICY GOVERNING THE PROVISION OF MEDICATIONS BY CERTIFIED MEDICATION AIDES; TO REQUIRE NURSING FACILITIES TO DISCLOSE TO THEIR RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT THE FACILITY EMPLOYS AND USES MEDICATION AIDES; TO PRESCRIBE THE CURRICULUM STANDARDS FOR THE MEDICATION AIDE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IN THE PROGRAM INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE A MEDICATION AIDE REGISTRY FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS A MEDICATION AIDE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY DENY REGISTRATION OR REFUSE RENEWAL OF OR REMOVE A REGISTRATION FROM THE MEDICATION AIDE REGISTRY FOR FAILURE TO MEET THE STANDARDS AND COMPETENCIES OR FOR VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.