TNA to CNA Transition Bill Passed by Senate (SNF)

House Bill 5089 was approved by the Senate unanimously today, and will be sent to the House of Representatives for a concurrence vote before being presented to the governor. The bill requires the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to approve training programs that offer hybrid online or remote training, and recognition of hours worked toward the required hours for nurse aide training. The bill also requires the department to approve testing programs that offer online and remote options, and for testing vendors to contract with nursing facility staff to proctor exams in the facility.

With the issuance of the CMS memo rescinding the 1135 waivers for nurse aide training, it is imperative that testing and training is as accessible as possible for the more than 3,000 waiver aides currently working in our state’s facilities. HB 5089 removes many of the existing barriers that have created a bottleneck in accessing training and testing.

HCAM is also working with CNA Online and LARA to make available a hybrid training program, and the department is expected to issue a form that allows training programs to recognize hours worked toward the requisite 75 training hours. Facilities are also able to work with the new state approved testing vendor, Headmaster, to have the competency examination proctored in the building.

You may find HB 5089 and track its progress HERE.