Four Additional Months for Temp. Nurse Aids to Register
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed that temporary nurse aides have four additional months to be placed on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry after the waiver expires on April 5, 2023, or the end of the public health emergency, whichever date comes first.
Waiver Extension Applies to Nurse Aides Hired after June 6
Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Minnesota's waiver extension request, allowing providers more time and flexibility for caregivers to transition to the Nursing Assistant Registry. CMS has confirmed to the MDH that the waiver extension applies to individuals hired after June 6 if training and testing backlogs prohibit these individuals from meeting the training and testing requirements for certification within four months. Individuals working under these waivers must continue attempts to complete training and testing.
Continue Transitioning Caregivers
Caregivers should continue transitioning to the registry as soon as possible. MDH provides three different pathways for this transition:
- Pathway 1: Enroll in and complete a state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) and pass the exam.
- Pathway 2: Enroll in a NATCEP training program, but take advantage of the MDH Transition Pathway. This pathway allows facilities to credit training received while working under the waiver towards the required 75-hour training. Individuals must still enroll in a NATCEP program to meet the training requirements and pass the exam.
- Pathway 3: Choose not to enroll in a NATCEP program but challenge and pass the exam.
For questions regarding this waiver extension or nursing assistant training and testing, please reach out to Anna Mowry, Director of Workforce Solutions at LeadingAge Minnesota.
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