Pennsylvania Code
Title 55 - HUMAN SERVICES
Part III - MEDICAL ASSISTANCE MANUAL
Chapter 1181 - NURSING FACILITY CARE
Subchapter D - NURSING HOME REFORM-STATEMENT OF POLICY
NURSE AIDE TRAINING AND COMPETENCY EVALUATION PROGRAM
Section 1181.521 - Nurse aide training and competency evaluation system

(a) Section 1396r(e)(1)(A) of 42 U.S.C.A. provides: "The State must by not later than January 1, 1989, specify those training and competency evaluation programs and those competency evaluation programs, that the State approves for purposes of (42 U.S.C.A. § 1396r(b)(5)) and that meet the requirements established under (42 U.S.C.A. §§ 1396r(f)(2)(A)(i) or (ii))."

(b) For purposes of 42 U.S.C.A. § 1396r(e)(1)(A):

(c) The Secretary of HHS has not yet established requirements for these programs. The Department of Education in cooperation with the Department has not approved existing programs as meeting the statutory requirements.

(d) The Department of Education in cooperation with the Department is developing criteria for the approval of nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs. The Department of Education will manage the review and approval of nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs and of nurse aide competency evaluation programs required by OBRA-87. The Department of Education will be the source for information about those programs and the agency responsible for determining nurse aide competency.

(e) Beginning January 1, 1989, the Department of Education will issue applications for approval of nurse aide training programs. The application will include information on the criteria that will be used to approve programs, which at a minimum, will conform with the Federal requirements noted in this section. Existing nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs, including those previously approved under the Department of Education's voluntary approval program, will have to obtain reapproval for purposes of training nurse aides under the OBRA-87 requirements. The Department of Education will be mailing copies of the application to existing nurse aide training programs which the Department of Education is aware are currently operating in this Commonwealth. Applications and information on nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs may be obtained from:

Vocational Licensure and Developmental Services

Section

Bureau of Vocational and Adult Education

Pennsylvania Department of Education

333 Market Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17126-0333

(717) 787-8867

(f) The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Education, will publish Pennsylvania-specific approval criteria for both nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs and nurse aide competency evaluation programs in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

(g) The Department and the Department of Education are currently planning to contract for the administration of nurse aide competency evaluation tests. The Department of Education will arrange for the administration of the tests. These tests will be scheduled Statewide. Notice of the availability of the test and the schedule and locations for its administration will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and mailed to participating nursing facility providers.