Medication Aide / Technician Categories By State This document

Medication Aide / Technician Categories

By State

This document does not address the school (K-12) setting and attempts to provide a comprehensive

representation of states authorizing the use of medication aides with varying titles As of 09/15, it

appears 36 states have granted permission for the practice of this category of health care worker.

Details follow. If aware of an omission, please contact [email protected]

State

Allow

Description

Alabama

Has been considered, no category of medication aide exists at this time.

However, the Board of Nursing Administrative Code 610-X-6-.06 (2004) allows

registered or licensed practical nurses to delegate in the school setting.

Alaska

Arizona

Yes

House Bill 2256, passed in 2004, established a pilot program allowing certified

nursing assistants, called medication technicians, to administer pills and

topical medication to patients. The State Board of Nursing administered the

program, limited to 6 SNFs. The participants must have worked in the facility as

a certified nursing assistant for at least six months, complete 45 hours of

didactic study, 15 hours of skills lab practice and 40 hours of supervised

clinical, and pass a state board competency exam. The 2008 published report

of the study findings are available from the Board of Nursing

http://www.azbn.gov/Documents/Newsletters/2008/Journal%204th%20Quart

er%202008.pdf .

Arkansas

Yes

Medication assistive person” means a person who is certified by the board of

nursing to administer certain nonprescription and legend drugs in designated

facilities and must be currently in good standing on the state’s certified nurse

aide registry and employed by the designated facility to be considered.

(Subchapter 7)

California

Considering for assisted living, though nothing apparent to authorize for any

setting at this time.

Colorado

Yes

The Certified Nurse Aide Practice Act (12-38.1-110.5. Medication aides -

training - scope of duties – rules) authorizes CNAs in good standing to be

trained and administer medications in a nursing facility. Candidates must have

spent at least 2000 hours working as a CNA in a nursing facility, complete 10

credit hours of a training course and pass a state board exam.

Connecticut

Yes

Those trained to be "medication technicians" may administer medications

under the supervision of a registered nurse in facilities run by the Department

of Children and Families, the Department of Mental Retardation, and the

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. (CT General Statute

Section 20-14i)

In 1999 legislation (PA 99-80) passed, authorizing trained, unlicensed

personnel to administer medication to elderly people in residential care homes

(residents must be ambulatory and generally less frail than those in nursing

homes).

In 2006, HB 5245 Created a medication technician pilot program involving 30

Connecticut

Continued

facilities. A “medication technician” must be a current nurse’s aide and have

maintained good standing for at least 2 years, must be recommended by the

director of nursing at the facility at which the nurse’s aide is employed, must

have completed a training program of45 hours of pharmacology training and

80 supervised clinical hours. They must also pass a written exam and a

practical exam administered by a nurse. They can administer medication at

chronic and convalescent nursing homes and rest homes with nursing

supervision. The program was scheduled to end no later than September 30,

2009. No additional information available at the time of the report.

Delaware

Yes

§ 1932 Limited Lay Administration of Medications. LLAM trained unlicensed

assistive personnel (UAP)” is an individual who has successfully completed the

Board of Nursing approved LLAM course, including the core course and any

program specific specialized training modules required.

(a) Individuals who have successfully completed a Board-approved limited lay

administration of medications training program may administer prescription or

nonprescription medications to patients/residents/clients in

the following

settings:

(1) Residential child care facilities and Day Treatment Programs regulated by

the State under Title 31.

(2)

All residential or day services for persons with intellectual disabilities

regulated by the State under Chapter 79 of Title 29 and Chapter 11 of Title 16.

(3) Group homes for persons with psychiatric disabilities regulated by the State

under Chapter 11 of Title 16 and other community support programs certified

by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

(4) Assisted living facilities regulated by the State under Chapter 11 of Title 16.

(5) Group homes established for persons with AIDS regulated by the State

under Chapter 11 of Title 16.

(b) Medications must be in the original container and properly labeled.

Board of Nursing, must be submitted no later than August 1 of each year

indicating compliance with the guidelines as set forth in the approved LLAM

training program.

Section 1. § 1902, Title 24 of the Delaware Code

District of

Columbia

Although the category of medication aide does not exist, Chapter 61 (6100-

6199) permits trained employees to administer medications to an individual

with mental retardation or other developmental disability who is enrolled in

or attending a public or private program recognized within an agency licensed,

certified, or approved by the District government as a child care facility, private

school, day program, community based residence, or other agency providing

residential services, education, habilitation, vocational, or employment training

services to individuals with mental retardation or other developmental

disability. A District of Columbia licensed registered nurse provides general

supervision and review of a trained medication employee administering

medications with at least quarterly review.

The assembled curriculum encompassing all phases of medication

administration authorized under D.C. Code §§ 21-1201 through 21-1204,

Florida

Florida only permits unlicensed personnel to "assist" with self-administration

of medications in the assisted living setting but it has been reported there is a

blurring of the definition of "assistance". In day programs for the

developmentally disabled, unlicensed personnel are permitted to administer

medications. (F.S. 393.506)

Georgia

Yes

Effective 2006, § 434326 50 -26- The Georgia Qualified Medication Aide(QMA)

Act permits nurses to delegate medication administration to those that have

meet the qualifications and training as designated by Board of Nursing

regulations and only to those residing in Community Living Arrangements

(CLAs). This law will sunset June 30

2011.

§ 434326 56 -26- describes activities permitted. The QMA may not administer

the initial dose of a newly ordered medication nor via the intravenous or

injectable routes. Other restrictions apply.

Hawaii

Idaho

Yes

Legislation sponsored by the Idaho Health Care Association and the Board of

Nursing amends the Nursing Practice Act to allow the Board to develop rules to

regulate Medication Assistants–Certified (MA-C). Where allowed by law, MA-

Cs will be permitted to administer medications prescribed by an authorized

provider within the parameters set forth in rules and supervised by a licensed

nurse. It is still a very new program with the rules having gone into effect in

July 2008.

Illinois

Category of healthcare worker does not exists – and practice is limited to

developmentally disabled residents with the adoption of Rule 116 on February

7, 2000, enabling an RN to delegate medication administration to non-nurse

direct care staff in group homes for 16 or fewer developmentally disabled

residents.

Indiana

Yes

Indiana has allowed medication aides in nursing homes since 1977. They have

to be certified nurses' aides having completed 1,000 work hours and then

complete 60 hours of classroom instruction and 40 of supervised practicum

before passing a competency exam.

Iowa

Yes

Iowa Code 81—65.17(135C) Medication management. 65.17(1) A person may

administer medications (excluding injectable medications) in nursing,

residential or living facilities under the supervision of a registered nurse, having

successfully completed a department-approved medication aide course or

passed a department-approved medication aide challenge examination

administered by an area community college. Prior to taking a department-

approved medication aide course, the individual must have been a CNA and

have worked in the same facility for at least 6 months.

Kansas

Yes

Medication aides are allowed in nursing homes, which come under the

definition of "adult care homes". They must first be certified nurses' aides and

undergo 60 hours of instruction, 15 of which must be clinical instruction. They

must complete 10 hours of medication aide continuing education every two

years (Kansas Stat. §§ 65-1, 121, 65-1124) (Administrative regulations 28-39-

169a.)

Kentucky

Yes

In Kentucky, unlicensed personnel known as medication aides or similar titles,

may function by administering oral and topical medication in long-term care

facilities only through delegation by and under the supervision of a registered

nurse or licensed practical nurse. Unlicensed personnel who function as

medication aides must have successfully completed the state approved course

for administration of medication as defined in the administrative regulations

issued by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of the Inspector

General. KRS 314.011(6)© and (10)©

Louisiana

Yes

The Medication Attendant Certified (MAC) is a Certified Nursing Assistant

(CNA), who has had the additional training in designated medication

preparation and administration. The primary role of the MAC is administering

medications, and he/ she will not have a patient care assignment which

conflicts or distracts from his/ her primary role. The MAC's role is completely

dependent upon delegation from a licensed nurse.

On July 9, 2008, Louisiana began a 3 year pilot program which establishes

provisions for the use of the MAC in licensed nursing facilities with a Registry

managed by the Board of Nursing. More information can be obtained from the

Department of Health Standards

http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/page.asp?id=112&detail=8553

Maine

Yes

Medication aides are certified after completing a program approved by the

Department of Health; the program includes 40 hours of classroom instruction.

Following a written exam, they have 30 days to complete 6 successful med

passes. Unlike some states, Medication aides may also administer PRN

medications, perform blood glucose testing and administer insulin. Regulations

mandate eight hours every two years in continuing education. Medication

aides are not required to be CNAs. ( Maine Administrative Code 10-149

Chapter 113 2.57)

Maryland

Yes

The Certified Medication Technician (CMT), is an individual who has completed

the Board of Nursing approved 20 hour training program in medication

administration. The medication technician who has completed this required

training and who is certified by the Board may administer medications at the

delegation of and under the supervision of registered nurses to clients in a

community based setting. The registered nurse, case manager/delegating

nurse must make an onsite home visit to the client setting at a minimum of

every 45 days.

For more information about this role, visit the Maryland Board of Nursing

website http://www.mbon.org/main.php

Massachusetts

Yes

MA has a Medication Administration Program (MAP) jointly regulated by the

Departments of Public Health, Mental Health and Mental Retardation which

established a training and certification program for medication administration

by qualified staff in community programs.

Michigan

Minnesota

Yes

Minnesota regulations allow the director of nursing services in a nursing home

to delegate medication administration to unlicensed personnel. These people

have to complete a nursing assistant training program and a standardized

medication administration training program for unlicensed personnel in

nursing homes, offered through a postsecondary educational institution (Minn.

Rule § 4658.1360).

Mississippi

Missouri

Yes

Once certified, Level I Medication Aides (LIMA) may administer medications or

supervise self administration of medications in any community residential care

facility (RCF) funded, licensed or certified by the Department of Mental Health

to provide services to persons who are mentally retarded or developmentally

disabled and to residents of assisted living facilities (ALF) (9 CSR 45-3.070.)

http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/9csr/9c45-3.pdf

Montana

Yes

Licensed Medication Aides are permitted in Assisted Living Facilities

(Mt Code 37-8-101 (3) and the legislature requested a study of the use of

medication aides in nursing homes with a report back during the 2011 session.

Resolution http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/qad/hj17/hj0017.pdf

Nebraska

Yes

The Nebraska Medication Aide Act, passed in 1998, allows people who are not

nurses to receive 40 hours of training and administer medications in a nursing

home under the supervision of a physician, nurse, or other licensed health care

professionals. It also allows them to engage in these activities in assisted living

facilities and other settings (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-620 et seq., Neb. Admin. R.

and Regs., Title 172, Ch. 96)

Nevada

New

Hampshire

Yes

A Medication Nursing Assistant (MNA) is a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) An

LNA is authorized to administer medication if:

(a) The LNA holds a currently valid certificate of medication administration; or

(b) A licensed nurse delegates the task of medication administration to the LNA

who is employed in the home care, hospice, residential care, or adult day care

setting. The board, in consultation with the commissioner of health and human

services or a designee, shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A establishing

standards for such delegation of medication administration which include, but

are not limited to, limitations on the number of delegations per assistive

personnel, training and competency requirements, documentation

requirements, and medication administration error reporting requirements.

Amended July 2015 332-K:1 Nursing Care and Consumer Directed Attendant

Care Services; Care by Unlicensed Persons.

http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/licertoccs/mednurse.htm

New Jersey

Yes

Those who qualify to take the exam for Certified Medication Aides (CMA)

include those with current certification in NJ as a nurse aide,

homemaker/home health aide, or personal care assistant. Delegation of the

medication administration task to a CMA may occur in Assisted Living

Residences and Comprehensive Personal Care Homes, or only as part of an

Assisted Living Program. These facilities are licensed by the New Jersey

Department of Health & Senior Services (NJDHSS)

New Mexico

Yes

Certified Medication Aides (CMAs) came into existence in New Mexico in 1991,

limited to ICR-MR facilities for the first few years. In 1997 the section of the

Nursing Practice Act covering CMAs added DD-Waiver facilities, and in 2005 it

was again expanded to long term care and public schools. A more detailed

description is available on the Board of Nursing website

http://www.state.nm.us/nursing/-the topic is "Rules."

New York

The category of worker does not exist however, in facilities operated by the

Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability, an MOU

establishes parameters for nurse’s role regarding training and evaluation.

And medication administration training (MAT) is also required for interested

child care providers http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/mat/

North Carolina

Yes

Medication aides were approved to practice in skilled nursing facilities (SNF,

also known as long term care) via Senate Bill 622 August of 2005. The law

became effective July 1, 2006, and the NC Division of Health Service Regulation

(previously known as the State Division of Facility Services) rules for SNF

became effective October 1, 2006. (10 NCAC 42C.2014 or 10 NCAC 42D. 1415)

To learn more, visit

http://ncbon.org/content.aspx?id=450#MedAideLawsRules

North Dakota

Yes

In 1994, the North Dakota Board of Nursing authorized the role of medication

administration by a medication assistant as a delegated nursing task, directly

supervised by licensed nurses.

To establish this assistive role, the Board of Nursing established standards for

two types of medication assistant programs. Between 2000 and 2005, it has

been reported there was more than a 300 percent increase in the number of

registered medication assistants in North Dakota from 426 to 1,260. Report

may be located

http://ruralhealth.und.edu/projects/nursing/pdf/MedicationAssistantReport.p

Ohio

Yes

Following a pilot program, conducted from 2006 through May 2009 in which

80 nursing homes and 40 residential care facilities participated, certified

medication aides are now permitted to administer medications in those

settings. A certified medication aide must meet certain criteria as established

in the Ohio Laws and Rules Chapter 4723-27 ORC, which can be found on the

Ohio Board of Nursing website

http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/medicationAides.htm

Oklahoma

Yes

The State Board of Health provides oversight for Certified medication aides,

who, upon successful completion of competency standards or prescribed

training courses, shall be eligible to distribute medications or treatments

within a correctional facility, as set forth in Section 623 of Title 57 of the

Oklahoma Statutes, as well as any correctional facility operated by a contractor

of the Department of Corrections, nursing facility, specialized facility,

continuum of care facility, assisted living center, adult day care or residential

care home.

Oregon

Yes

Certified Medication Aides (CMAs) are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who

have had additional training and are authorized to administer non-injectable

medications. Oregon CMAs are trained in Board of Nursing approved

medication aide programs and must pass a Board-administered examination to

qualify for CMA certification before administering medication.

(ORS 678 OAR 851-062)

http://licenseinfo.oregon.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=license_seng&link_item_i

d=1634

Pennsylvania

Although medication aides appear to be working in assisted living facilities, the

source for authority is not readily identifiable.

Rhode Island

Yes

Rhode Island regulations have allowed unlicensed personnel to act as

medication technicians in nursing homes since 1979. They must complete 45

hours of instruction at a higher education institution. They do not have to be

nurses' aides if all they do is administer medications (R.I. Code R. § 23.7).

South Carolina

Yes

It has been reported that CNAs with additional training are permitted to

provide medications to residents of assisted living facilities. Board of Nursing

has discussed regulating this worker, but unable to locate evidence of such

authority for CNAs or regulation of the practice.

South Dakota

Yes

South Dakota's Nurse Practice Act allows nurses in nursing homes and other

settings to delegate some of their nursing tasks to "unlicensed assistive

personnel (UAP)." Administering medication is one of these tasks. The

regulations require the nurse to supervise the UAP and specify the tasks that

may be delegated. The regulations also set standards for approval of

medication administration programs, which must provide 16 hours of

classroom instruction and four hours of clinical or laboratory instruction as well

as a series of tests (S.D. Codified Laws, §§ 20:48:04.01:10 et seq.).

Tennessee

Yes

Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-7-102, is amended to permit any

nursing home or assisted care living facility licensed pursuant to Title 68 of

Tennessee Code Annotated, to use one or more medication aides certified to

administer medications. To qualify for the application, the certified nurse aide

must have practiced in a nursing home or assisted care living facility for a

minimum of one (1) year, on a full-time basis.

Texas

Yes

Since 1979, Texas has allowed medication aides to work in nursing homes.

They must first be certified nurses' aides and complete 140 hours of additional

instruction. These include 100 hours of classroom instruction, 30 hours of a

skills demonstration laboratory, and 10 hours of clinical experience (Texas

Code § 242.606 et seq.)

Utah

Yes

MA-C is a medication aide – certified is authorized to administer medications

under the supervision of a licensed nurse as defined in Subsection R156-31b-

102(40),

(i) via approved routes as listed in Subsection 58-31b-102(17)(b);

(ii) that includes turning oxygen on and off at a predetermined, established

flow rate; and

(iii) that is prescribed as PRN (as needed), if expressly instructed to do so by

the nurse, or the medication is an over-the-counter medication;

(b) destroy medications per facility policy;

(d) account for controlled substances with another MA-C or nurse.

Limitations and other details are cited (R156-31b-801. Medication Aide –

Certified – Formulary and Protocols)

http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/nursing.html

Vermont

Unable to locate authority for this practice.

Virginia

Yes

Medication aides are authorized to practice according to

(18VAC90-60-10 et seq. § 54.1-2400 and Chapter 30 of Title 54.1 of the Code of

Virginia, effective Date: July 1, 2009) and regulated by the Board of Nursing

Washington

Unable to locate authority for this practice

West Virginia

Yes

In accordance with West Virginia Code Chapter 16-50 only a registered

professional nurse in conjunction with the resident’s attending physician may

delegate the task of medication administration to an Approved Medication

Assistive Personnel (AMAP). Licensed practical nurses cannot by law delegate

this task to other personnel. Delegation is restricted to ICF/MR (intermediate

Care Facility for Persons with Mental Retardation); a personal care home, a

residential board and care home, a behavioral health group home, a private

residence in which health care services are provided under the supervision of a

registered professional nurse, and an adult family care home that is licensed by

or approved by the West Virginia state health department.

Wisconsin

Yes

Regulations allow unlicensed personnel to administer medications to nursing

home residents if they have taken a Department of Health and Family Services

approved medication administration program –(Wisconsin Administrative Code

DHS 132.60(5)(d)1)

http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/NHs/MedAides.htm

Wyoming

Repeated legislative efforts to create medication aides have failed thus far.

9/2015