1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 197 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1623
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bruce E. Tarr
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to certified medication aides.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 197 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1623
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1623) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation
relative to certified medication aides. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1468 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to certified medication aides.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 111, as appearing in the Massachusetts General Laws 2022 Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting, after section 72BB the following new section:-
3 Section 72CC. (a) As used in this section the following words shall have the following
4meaning:- A certified medication aide means a staff member, who meets the eligibility
5requirements, has successfully completed the required training and competency testing
6developed by the Department of Public Health, and is considered competent to administer oral
7and topical non-narcotic medications to residents in long-term care facilities.
8 (b) The Department shall create a program for the administration of medications in long-
9term care facilities by certified medication aides in consultation with all necessary and relevant 2 of 2
10appropriate agencies, and licensing boards, including, but not limited to, the Board of
11Registration in Nursing.
12 (c) The Department shall develop and approve training curricula, competency evaluation
13procedures, standards for qualifications of applicants for certification and monitoring and
14oversight requirements for participating long-term care facilities.
15 (d) The Department shall establish regulations that include: (1) provisions for continuing
16education requirements for certified medication aides; (2) requirements for re-certification of
17certified medication aides on a biennial basis; and (3) fees for the issuance of certification to
18certified medication aides.
19 (e) The Department shall allow for the creation of apprenticeship programs for currently
20employed resident care assistants (RCAs) and certified nurse aides (CNAs) to become certified
21medication aides.
22 (f) The Department may promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of
23this section.