You Asked: Did the temporary nurse aid waiver end?
We Answered: The temporary nurse aide (TNA) waiver is still in effect. This week, the Ohio Department of Health released a memo with information regarding temporary nurse aides working under Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services blanket waiver via their EIDC system. The memo was spurred by language included in SB6 which would allow temporary nurse aides to skip the 75 hours of classroom and clinical instruction, provided on-the-job training covered the subjects required in 42 CFR §483.152 (b).
Staff that were trained and have had work experience through the pandemic that meets the 75 hours can now apply to sit for the written and skills test to become an official STNA starting October 1. Facilities can still hire TNAs and train them, as the federal public health emergency (PHE) has not ended. LeadingAge Ohio anticipates that providers would have a 60-day window for any ending of the nurse aide training waiver or the PHE.
Questions can be directed to the NATCEP Unit at (614) 752-8285.