Harrisburg, Pa. (Oct. 8, 2024) — The Pennsylvania legislature is sending new workforce legislation, proposed by the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk after a nearly two-year advocacy campaign. Once signed, the new law will establish the position of a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) to work in Pennsylvania nursing facilities.
“We are grateful to the General Assembly –– especially the prime sponsors of this bill, Sens. Judy Ward and Maria Collett –– for recognizing the value a position such as this can bring to long-term care communities,” said Tim Ward, the director of advocacy and government affairs for the Pennsylvania Health Care Association. “Expanding access to care starts with expanding career opportunities that support the mission of caring for others and help providers comply with regulatory requirements. We have a workforce crisis, and legislative solutions such as this can help providers better address the challenges they are facing.”
Ward, who proposed the position to the Senate Aging and Youth Committee and advocated for the bill throughout the legislative process, worked with PHCA members to develop a solution that can address current nurse limitations. The position of a CMA not only expands the career ladder in long-term care –– providing more areas of professional growth for Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) –– but it also alleviates strain on providers who are limited in the availability of Registered Nurses (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).
Without the position of a CMA, regulations state that only RNs and LPNs can distribute medications to nursing facility residents.
The prime sponsors of Senate Bill 668 are both former nurses and the co-chairs of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. They understand the flexibility the CMA position provides to help overcome staffing gaps.
“Today’s passage of this critical legislation means that long-term care facilities will have greater flexibility in how to staff their facility, enabling them to better care for their residents,” said Sen. Judy Ward, majority chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. “The creation of the position of Certified Medication Aide will add to the career ladder of Certified Nurse Aides and help our long-term care providers recruit the talented staff they need.”
“As we continue efforts to reduce healthcare staffing gaps, we must ensure the dedicated workers we do have are empowered to provide the highest level of care possible,” said Sen. Maria Collett, minority chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. “Today’s passage of Senate Bill 668 represents a victory for Pennsylvania’s long-term care residents and the staff who work most closely with them. I was proud to work alongside fellow nurse, Sen. Judy Ward, to get this legislation across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing Governor Shapiro sign it into law.”
Senate Bill 668 is expected to be signed by Governor Shapiro in the coming days. Training to become a CMA will begin one year from when the bill is signed into law.
The legislation was amended in the House to include a requirement of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the state Board of Nursing to work together in determining whether CMA training hours can be credited toward LPN training.
Pennsylvania will become the 35th state to establish the position of CMA for nursing facilities.
