| Sec. 1. Rules. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human |
Services and the State Board of Nursing shall adopt rules |
establishing a new classification of certified health care |
workers to be named "health care attendants." In developing the |
new classification of health care attendants, the department and |
the State Board of Nursing shall review the requirements for |
certification of certified nursing assistants for training, |
certification and listing in good standing on the Maine Registry |
of Certified Nursing Assistants pursuant to the Maine Revised |
Statutes, Title 22, section 1812-G. The department and the State |
Board of Nursing shall adopt rules regarding training |
requirements and certification standards for health care |
attendants that will qualify health care attendants to perform |
the function of feeding patients who need assistance with eating |
and other functions relating to patient care such as grooming and |
dressing. In developing the training requirements and |
certification standards, the department and State Board of |
Nursing shall seek the advice and participation of the long-term |
care ombudsman program and representatives of consumers and |
providers of health care and assisted living services. The |
certification standards for health care attendants may not |
require completion of a course for certified nursing assistants |
or qualification for listing in good standing on the Maine |
Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants. Rules adopted pursuant |
to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the |
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. |