Assigned to HHS                                                                                                           AS PASSED BY HOUSE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1244

caregivers; assisted living; training

Purpose

Adds training, competency and testing methodology standards developed by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to the assisted living facility training program. Specifies that a person who has completed training and competency requirements developed by AHCCCS for in-home direct care workers satisfies the training requirements for assisted living facility caregivers, with certain exceptions.

Background

The Arizona Board of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers (NCIA) licenses and regulates administrators and managers of nursing care institutions and assisted living facilities. NCIA responsibilities include: 1) investigating complaints; 2) overseeing the general application of the laws governing the practice of nursing care institution administrators and assisted living facility managers; 3) updating and developing rules that regulate administrators and managers; 4) ensuring qualifications are met prior to issuing a license or certificate to an administrator or manager; 5) ensuring requirements are met for the renewal of an administrator's license or manager's certificate; 6) approving and regulating assisted living facility manager and caregiver training programs; and 7) approving continuing education courses to ensure quality and useful education is being taught (A.R.S. §§ 36-446.02 and 36-446.03).

            Currently, an assisted living facility training program must include: 1) training that is required for assisted living facility manager certification; and 2) training that is required by the Department of Health Services for assisted living facility caregivers. AHCCCS has prescribed training and testing requirements for direct care workers who provide direct care services, including: 1) attendant care; 2) personal care; and 3) homemakers to Arizona Long Term Care System members residing in their own home. Chapter 400, Section 429 of the AHCCCS Contractor Operations Manual outlines the minimum program requirements and standards for approved direct care worker training and testing programs, including: 1) curriculum standards; 2) training qualifications and protocols; 3) training and testing standards; 4) program policy standards; 5) training and testing records; and 6) continuing education requirements (A.R.S.
§ 36-446).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires that training for assisted living facility caregivers be consistent with the training, competency and test methodology standards developed by AHCCCS for in-home direct care workers.

2. Directs the NCIA to prescribe rules for assisted living facility training programs that are consistent with the training, competency and test methodology standards developed by AHCCCS for in‑home direct care givers, by June 1, 2020.

3. Specifies that a person who has completed the training and competency requirements developed by AHCCCS for in-home direct care workers 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.

4. Specifies that an individual who has completed the training and competency requirements developed by AHCCCS for in-home direct care workers and who registers for a medication administration examination must only complete the portion of the assisted living facility caregiver examination that covers medication administration.

5. Requires that medication administration competency testing be conducted in accordance with NCIA standards.

6. Permits NCIA-approved schools and assisted living facilities that provide training to conduct medication administration competency testing.

7. Makes technical changes.

8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by House of Representatives

1. Establishes medication administration testing and competency requirements for specified assisted living facility caregivers.

2. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Senate Action House Action

HHS                2/13/19      DP     6-0-2                    HHS                3/21/19     DPA     9-0-0-0

3^rd Read          2/28/19                 30-0-0                  3^rd Read          5/27/19                  59-0-1

Prepared by Senate Research

May 27, 2019

CRS/AG/gs