ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 73
BY REPRESENTATIVE ARMES
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to study the benefits and costs
associated with online delivery of certain training required for medication attendants
and to report findings of the study to the legislative committees on health and
welfare.
WHEREAS, current state law, R.S. 37:1022, authorizes nonlicensed personnel who
have successfully completed and passed a required drug administration course to administer
oral medication, ointments, and suppositories to the following persons:
(1) Residents of facilities operated by the office for citizens with developmental
disabilities of the Louisiana Department of Health.
(2) Residents of certain community homes for persons with developmental
disabilities.
(3) Persons receiving certain in-home Medicaid-funded services; and
WHEREAS, persons who have successfully completed the required drug
administration course and passed a qualifying examination become state-certified as
medication attendants; and
WHEREAS, state law presently does not specify means by which training for
medication attendants may be delivered, and all such training is currently delivered in a live,
in-person format; and
WHEREAS, evidence suggests that medication attendant education and training can
be delivered with a high degree of effectiveness in web-based formats; and
WHEREAS, notable examples of state-approved online education for health
professionals include web-based curricula for baccalaureate and associate degrees in nursing.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to study the benefits and costs
associated with online delivery of certain training required for medication attendants.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the only types of courses for medication
attendants that the study requested in this Resolution shall consider for potential online
delivery shall be those designated as classroom theory and re-certification courses.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study called for in this
Resolution, the department shall engage and obtain information and recommendations from
at least two certified medication attendants and at least two providers of medication
attendant training.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall issue a written report of
findings from the study called for in this Resolution to the House Committee on Health and
Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare no later than sixty days prior to
the convening of the 2020 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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