CNA Training – HB551 – Del. Vivian Watts (D-Annandale) introduced this bill to require an additional 80 hours of training for certified nurse aides (CNAs) in their first four months on the job. Del. Watts agreed to have this bill tabled while the Chairman of the Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee sends a letter to the Board of Nursing requesting an off-session work group to look more broadly at CNA training and curriculum.

Electronic Monitoring in Nursing Facilities – SB553 – Sen. John Cosgrove’s (R-Chesapeake) bill would mandate that nursing facilities provide electronic monitoring of resident rooms.  The Health Department is currently in the final stages of developing regulations for electronic monitoring pursuant to legislation adopted in 2013.  Stakeholders, including VHCA-VCAL, were able to provide input to those regulations, and we are hopeful that any action taken will take that work into account.  This bill will be heard in Senate subcommittee next week.

Adult Protective Services – HB552 – This bill, also from Del. Watts, would have required all of the various regulatory and law enforcement agencies to communicate with one another whenever a complaint of abuse, neglect, or exploitation was made before any finding of fault.  Following outreach from VHCA-VCAL and other stakeholders, Del. Watts was convinced that there was no need for additional legislation on this issue.  She agreed to strike the bill.  We anticipate that Del. Watts will convene meetings outside of session to continue discussing ensuring that neglect and abuse issues are reported.

Palliative Care – HB473 – As drafted, this bill from Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) would have mandated that nursing facilities and hospitals establish a new system for identifying residents who may benefit from palliative care.  The patron was very accommodating upon hearing concerns raised by stakeholders including VHCA-VCAL; Del. Filler-Corn will have her bill tabled and a letter sent to the Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care to study palliative care and how to increase awareness and utilization of it.

Ombudsman Authority and the Federal Rehabilitation Act and Older Americans Act – HB740 –  As introduced, this bill from Del. Joseph Yost (R-Giles) intended to conform Virginia law with new federal regulations enacting the Federal Rehabilitation and Older Americans Acts.  VHCA-VCAL discussed several concerns about the bill with other stakeholders and Del. Yost regarding the changes to the powers of the Long Term Care Ombudsman.  Del. Yost proposed substitute bill language that removed the Ombudsman language and the bill was then favorably reported by the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee.  VHCA-VCAL will work with the Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman after session to address questions and anticipate consensus legislation to be introduced in the 2017 session.

Prescription Monitoring Program – SB513 – This bill from Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico) would require mandatory checks of the Prescription Monitoring Program by prescribers when they write a prescription for a benzodiazepine or opiate.  Sen. Dunnavant has been very open to addressing concerns related to the use of these medications in inpatient settings like nursing facilities.  VHCA-VCAL will continue to work with her to minimize the impact of this bill on member centers.