Stakeholder Meeting in Regard to SB24-167 and ALR Portable Training

 

To: ALRs and all those interested in the implementation of SB24-167 “Training for Entry-Level Health-Care Workers” You are invited to participate in the stakeholder process to implement the stakeholder-initiated and supported SB24-167 through regulatory changes at 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 7 - Assisted Living Residences. This new law, signed by Governor Polis on June 6, 2024, allows for the portability of tuberculosis tests, mask fittings, and training in hand hygiene, infection control, basic first aid, resident rights, person-centered care, fall prevention, lift assistance, and food safety for (employee) direct-care workers in state-licensed assisted living residences. As a result of this new legislation, assisted living residences will be able to accept proof of training from employee direct-care workers when certain conditions are met. (Please note that the statutory definition of direct care worker is limited to employees of the assisted living residence and does not include contracted staff, volunteers, or other employees who do not meet this definition.)  SB24-167 is very prescriptive in nature and requires incorporating new rule language regarding test and training portability in 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 7 - Assisted Living Residences.  Through this stakeholder process, we will also be making conforming amendments to 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 24 - Medication Administration Regulations, to align the chapter with a new statutory definition of “QMAP” for Assisted Living Residences as found in SB24-167. As previously communicated via the Division’s portal messaging system on July 3rd, the legislation also includes a new statutory definition of QMAP, applicable only to ALRs, that is more restrictive than the currently effective rule-based definition. Beginning January 1, 2025, an individual must have passed the QMAP competency exam from an approved training entity on or after July 1, 2017 to be a QMAP in an ALR. Individuals currently functioning as QMAPs in ALRs whose competency exam was administered by the Department prior to July 1, 2017 will no longer meet the statutory ALR-specific definition of QMAP and must no longer administer medications in the ALR setting unless they have also passed a competency exam administered by an approved training entity on or after July 1, 2017. If you have any questions about the Department's obligation to uphold this new standard, please contact Jane Flournoy at jane.flournoy@state.co.us.   Since the language of SB24-167 is so prescriptive, the Department will undergo an abbreviated stakeholder process, consisting of two stakeholder meetings, held on August 15, 2024 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. and September 26, 2024 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. The Department will introduce proposed rule language and seek stakeholder input at the first meeting and will review any changes as part of a final review at the second meeting. The draft language will then be presented to the Assisted Living Advisory Committee in October 2024 prior to presenting it to the Board of Health as part of a request for hearing in November 2024. Please note that both stakeholder meetings will be held virtually only to allow for equal participation regardless of the geographic location of the attendee.  When- August 15, 2024, from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.  Where- This meeting will be held virtually only Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 870 7171 0501 All who are interested are welcome to attend and participate. Meeting documents, including agendas, proposed rule language, presentations, etc., will be posted to the public meeting folder approximately a week before each meeting.  Notice of each meeting is provided to facilities through the Division’s portal messaging system roughly two weeks in advance of each meeting. Notice will also be emailed directly to all individuals who sign up to receive such messages. Please sign up here. Please feel free to share this link with other interested parties. If you have any questions or comments prior to the first meeting of the ALR Portable Training Stakeholder Group, please contact Francile Beights at francile.beights@state.co.us, or Nicola Koepnick at nicola.koepnick@state.co.us.  .