certified nursing assistants

The Florida Health Care Association wrote to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services warning that most facilities could not meet the “arbitrary and unfunded mandates."

The law allows qualified CNAs to administer “routine” medications to residents, freeing up registered nurses to provide other needed care.

The legislation, which unanimously passed the state Senate last month, would allow certified nursing assistants to become trained as “qualified medication aides.”

The vote was unanimous, 39-0. A similar bill in the House will soon be up for a vote. If signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it would take effect July 1.

The 19-0 vote by the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee moves the legislation to a vote by the full state Senate. The House will also vote on a matching bill.

A state Senate panel has approved a proposal that would allow trained certified nursing assistants to give medications to nursing home residents.

The measure would allow CNAs to become “qualified medication aides” and free up registered nurses to provide other needed care to residents.

The industry has long relied on immigrants to bolster its ranks, and they’ll be critical to meeting future staffing needs, experts say. But as the baby boom generation fills beds, policymakers are slow to open new pathways for foreign workers.

Among the other measures awaiting the governor's pen was a proposal that would broaden doctors’ ability to prescribe controlled substances through telemedicine.

AARP Florida says its members have been calling and emailing the governor’s office, claiming the legislation will lead to reduced care for residents, potentially leading to harm.