7 AAC 43.771. Agency-based program; personal care assistant education and training requirements

(a) A personal care assistant in the agency-based program must have and maintain a valid certificate in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other agency approved by the department. A personal care assistant must also

(1) hold a valid license as a nurse in this state under AS 08.68;

(2) hold a valid certification as a certified nurse aide in this state under AS 08.68;

(3) have satisfactorily completed training as specified in (b) of this section and passed a standardized competency test approved by the department; or

(4) have had training or experience equivalent to the training specified in (b) of this section within the five years immediately preceding application to work in the program, and passed a standardized competency test approved by the department.

(b) Training referred to in (a)(3) or (4) of this section must be approved by the department, must be provided by a nurse licensed under AS 08.68, and must provide at least 40 hours of instruction in the following subject areas:

(1) infection control in the home;

(2) bowel and bladder care;

(3) basic nutrition and food planning and preparation;

(4) procedures for physical transfers, including emergency evacuation of physically disabled persons and nonambulatory persons;

(5) assistance with self-administered medication;

(6) procedures for taking blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration;

(7) understanding and working with children, the elderly, persons with physical or developmental disabilities, persons with communicable diseases, and persons with physical or mental illnesses;

(8) practical knowledge of body systems, body mechanics, body disorders and diseases, and the observation of body functions;

(9) death and dying;

(10) practical skills and use of equipment necessary to perform tasks identified in 7 AAC 43.752(a) (1);

(11) legal requirements affecting personal care assistants, including record keeping under 7 AAC 43.030, confidentiality, personal care assistant program responsibilities as set out in this chapter, medical assistance fraud under AS 47.05.210 , and reporting of harm under AS 47.17.020 - 47.17.022 and AS 47.24;

(12) universal precautions; for purposes of this paragraph, "universal precautions" means the infectious control precautions that are recommended by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to be used to prevent the transmission of blood-borne germs such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus;

(13) infection control.

(c) The department may allow reimbursement for services provided by an individual who has performed duties similar to those of a personal care assistant under 7 AAC 43.750 - 7 AAC 43.795, has completed at least 16 hours of training in the areas listed in (b) of this section, and whose job performance has been found satisfactory by the appropriate personal care agency, based upon references or other verification, but whose training does not meet the requirements of this section, if that individual

(1) is otherwise qualified to act as a personal care assistant under 7 AAC 43.770;

(2) provides proof of enrollment in training that, within four months after beginning employment as a personal care assistant, will qualify the individual to meet the requirements of (b) of this section; and

(3) ensures that the personal care agency provides proof that the individual has successfully completed the 16 hours of training required under this subsection to enable that individual to be eligible for reimbursement as a personal care assistant.

History: Eff. 6/27/92, Register 122; readopt 8/7/96, Register 139; am 10/1/2001, Register 159; am 1/1/2002, Register 160; am 6/19/2004, Register 170; am 4/1/2006, Register 177

Authority: AS 47.05.010

AS 47.07.030

Editor's note: Effective 8/7/96, Register 139, the Department of Health and Social Services readopted 7 AAC 43.771 in its entirety, without change, under AS 47.05 and AS 47.07. Executive Order No. 72 transferred certain rate-setting authority to the department.

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