Harrisburg, Pa. (March 8, 2023) — The Pennsylvania Health Care Association is one step closer in the pursuit of creating a new direct care position in Pennsylvania’s nursing facilities. A bipartisan co-sponsorship memo was introduced today in the state Senate by Aging and Youth Committee co-chairs, Sens. Judy Ward and Maria Collett, to establish a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) position.
Workforce limitations continue to hamper long-term care providers’ efforts to meet the growing needs for senior care services. The creation of a Certified Medication Aide will not only help address challenges of ensuring certified staff are available to handle medications, but the position will also expand the nursing facility career ladder, creating more opportunities for professional growth.
“Our workforce challenges are not going away. PHCA has been on a mission to deliver innovative solutions that will help our members overcome these challenges and better support the care needs of Pennsylvania’s rapidly aging residents,” said Tim Ward, Director of Advocacy and Government Relations. “We are thrilled knowing Sens. Judy Ward and Maria Collett support us in this mission and are helping to make sure the CMA position becomes a reality.”
Currently, Pennsylvania regulations only allow for Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to pass medications to residents. The amount of RNs and LPNs in the state and country continues to trend negatively. A CMA will help fill that void by essentially creating a new position – and a new rung of the long-term care career ladder – between an LPN and a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).
“I’m excited to be working on this crucial legislation with Sen. Collett and industry representatives like PHCA,” said Sen. Judy Ward. “Our nursing homes are in desperate need of help, and staffing shortages remain one of the biggest problems preventing long-term care facilities from providing quality life-affirming care. This Certified Medication Aide position will allow more aspiring health care workers to enter the field and will give long-term care facilities much-needed quality staff.”
“Residents and patients in Pennsylvania’s nursing homes deserve nothing short of the best care we can make available to them,” said Sen. Maria Collett. “I am proud to join with Sen. Judy Ward to ensure residents receive their medications on time while allowing our healthcare professionals to continue developing their careers at the bedside, where patients need them most.”
The co-sponsorship memo outlines the path to becoming a CMA as first serving at least one year of working as a CNA in a nursing facility and subsequently completing a CMA training program created by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Other states across the country, including Maryland, have already enacted a CMA position.
PHCA recently released a report that reveals the magnitude of workforce challenges in nursing facilities.
