ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SB 1244: caregivers; assisted living; training

PRIME SPONSOR: Senator Brophy McGee, LD 28

BILL STATUS: House Engrossed

Overview

Modifies the training program requirements for assisted living facilities to include training that is consistent with the training, competency and test methodology standards developed by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for in-home direct care workers (DCW). Specifies that a person who has successfully completed the training and competency requirements developed by AHCCCS for in-home DCW's satisfies the training requirements for assisted living facility caregivers, with certain exceptions.

History

The Arizona Board of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers (Board) licenses and regulates administrators and managers of nursing care institutions and assisted living facilities. A few of the Board's responsibilities include prescribing standards for assisted living facility training programs and adopting rules for the examination and certification of assisted living facility managers. (A.R.S. § 36-446.03)

AHCCCS has instituted training and testing requirements for DCW's who provide direct care services to Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) members residing in their own home. Chapter 400, Section 429 of the AHCCCS Contractors Operations Manual outlines the minimum program requirements and standards for approved programs to ensure uniformity of the training and testing of DCWs and DCW Trainers as well as the portability of testing records. The manual outlines the curriculum, training, testing and continuing education requirements.

A.R.S. § 36-446 currently defines an assisted living facility training program as including 1) training required for assisted living facility manager certification; and 2) training required by DHS for assisted living facility caregivers.

Provisions

1. Modifies the training program for assisted living facilities to include training that is consistent with the training, competency and test methodology standards developed by AHCCCS for in-home DCWs. (Sec. 1)

2. Stipulates that the Board must prescribe rules for assisted living facility caregivers consistent with the training, competency and test methodology standards developed by AHCCCS for in-home DCWs by June 1, 2020. (Sec. 2)

3. Specifies that a person who successfully completes the training and competency requirements developed by AHCCCS for in-home DCWs satisfies the training requirements for assisted living facility caregivers, except for medication administration training required by the assisted living facility caregiver's scope of practice. (Sec. 3)

4. Requires an individual who meets the requirements and who registers for a medication administration examination to take and successfully complete only the part of the assisted living facility caregiver examination that covers the subject of medication administration. (Sec. 3)

5. States that the testing for medication administration competency:

a. Must be conducted in accordance with the testing standards adopted by the Board; and

b. May be conducted by a training school approved by the Board or by the assisted living facility that provided the training. (Sec. 3)

6. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

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10. Fifty-fourth Legislature                       SB 1244

11. First Regular Session                            Version 3: House Engrossed

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