The Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act aims to alleviate staffing shortages in New Jersey's nursing homes by allowing certified medication aides to administer medications to residents, a practice already permitted in 38 other states. The bill addresses the challenges of recruiting and retaining qualified staff, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and seeks to reduce the burden on existing direct care staff. It also amends existing laws related to the certification process for nurse aides, personal care assistants, and medication aides, introducing new requirements for criminal history background checks, including follow-up checks every two years and conditional certification while checks are pending.

Key provisions of the bill include the Department of Health covering the costs of criminal history background checks for certification applicants and clarifying that certified medication aides can administer medications under the supervision of a registered nurse. The bill establishes a two-year certification period for medication aides, requiring completion of a training course and passing a standardized examination, along with at least 10 hours of continuing education for renewal. It also creates a registry for certified medication aides and outlines the criteria for suspension, denial, or revocation of certification, ensuring accountability and enhancing the quality of care in nursing homes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2H-83, 26:2H-84, 26:2H-85, 53:1-20.9, 45:1-28, 26:2H-12.2, 26:2H-12.96