04/30/1997 02:00 PM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL 217                                                               
                                                                               
       "An  Act  relating   to  certified  nurse  aides;   and                 
       providing for an effective date."                                       
                                                                               
  MARK ROSEN,  STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE  JOE RYAN,  introduced HB
 which would give  the Board of Nursing the  authority to                 
  oversee   the   training,   supervision,   utilization   and                 
  registration of Certified Nurse Aides.                                       
                                                                               
  CATHERINE  REARDON,  DIRECTOR,   DIVISION  OF   OCCUPATIONAL                 
  LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,                 
  explained  there are  2,800 Certified  Nurses Aides  (CNA's)                 
  working  in  Alaska's  long-term  care  facilities  and home                 
  health agencies.   These  aides provide  care to  those most                 
  unable to care for themselves, the aged and the infirm.                      
                                                                               
  The Certified  Nurse Aides work  under the supervision  of a                 
  nurse  licensed  by the  Board  of Nursing,  performing only                 
  those  duties  specifically delegated  by  that nurse.   The                 
                                                                               
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  Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (federal) required                 
  that states establish Nurse Aide Certification  programs for                 
  aides working  in long-term  care and  home health  agencies                 
  receiving Medicare and  Medicaid funding.   Since 1989,  the                 
  responsibility for the Certified Nurse Aide program has been                 
  divided between the Department of Health and Social Services                 
  (DHSS), Division  of Medical  Assistance, Health  Facilities                 
  and  Licensing  and  Department  of  Commerce  and  Economic                 
  Development   (DCED),   Occupational  Licensing,   Board  of                 
  Nursing.                                                                     
                                                                               
  The legislation would delineate responsibility for oversight                 
  of Certified Nurse  Aides clearly to  the Board of  Nursing.                 
  The Board of  Nursing has been responsible  for establishing                 
  minimum  training standards,  approval of  training programs                 
  and maintenance of the Certified Nurses Aide registry.                       
                                                                               
  HB  217  protects  Alaska's  most  vulnerable  population by                 
  insuring  that the  people who  care for  them  are properly                 
  trained and that  oversight of that  care be provided.   She                 
  proceeded to explain the differences between the Finance and                 
  Labor & Commerce Committees version of the bill.                             
                                                                               
  Representative Martin recommended that  the Board of Nursing                 
  screen themselves at their own expense.  Ms. Reardon replied                 
  that  the  program  was  required  by  State  statute to  be                 
  financially self- sufficient.  The fees charged to the nurse                 
  aides must cover those costs.  The Board of Nursing is aware                 
  that the fees will increase as  a result of the legislation.                 
  She  pointed out that  this would be  a general fund/program                 
  receipts.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Ms. Reardon  spoke to  the fiscal  note which  indicates new                 
  State  expenditures.   The  way to  calculate fees  for each                 
  occupation is through audits.  Part  of the costs of running                 
  the board are shared by spreading the costs on a per  capita                 
  basis.   Any direct  costs caused  by nurse  aides would  be                 
  included  as   would  the  administrative   indirect  costs.                 
  Representative G. Davis  asked if  there was an  established                 
  indirect cost rate.  Ms. Reardon replied that the cost would                 
  be $35 dollars.  All costs are related to license processing                 
  and billings.                                                                
                                                                               
  (Tape Change HFC 97-118, Side 1).                                            
                                                                               
  RON  COWAN,  (TESTIFIED VIA  TELECONFERENCE),  DEPARTMENT OF                 
  HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, ANCHORAGE, offered to answer any                 
  questions of the Committee, noting that the Department fully                 
  supports the proposed legislation.                                           
                                                                               
  Representative  Martin  MOVED  that 0-LS0737\L,  Lauterbach,                 
  4/30/97, be the version  before the Committee.   There being                 
                                                                               
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  NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                                
                                                                               
  Representative J. Davies MOVED to report CS HB 217 (FIN) out                 
  of Committee  with individuals recommendations  and with the                 
  accompanying fiscal  notes.  Co-Chair Therriault  noted that                 
  he would like to change the DCED fiscal note to reflect that                 
  the  funds  are  program  receipts.    Following  discussion                 
  between Co-Chair  Therriault and Representative J. Davies on                 
  the effect of that  intent, there was NO OBJECTION,  and the                 
  bill was moved from Committee.                                               
                                                                               
  CS HB 217  (FIN) was reported  out of  Committee with a  "do                 
  pass" recommendation and with fiscal notes by the Department                 
  of  Health  and  Social  Services   dated  4/17/97  and  the                 
  Department of Commerce and Economic Development.