SF 818

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 05/14/2018 05:28pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; providing for training in hearing loss care to home care provider
staff and supervisors; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 144A.4796,
subdivisions 2, 6.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 144A.4796, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:

Subd. 2.

Content.

new text begin (a) new text end The orientation must contain the following topics:

(1) an overview of sections 144A.43 to 144A.4798;

(2) introduction and review of all the provider's policies and procedures related to the
provision of home care services;

(3) handling of emergencies and use of emergency services;

(4) compliance with and reporting of the maltreatment of minors or vulnerable adults
under sections 626.556 and 626.557;

(5) home care bill of rights under section 144A.44;

(6) handling of clients' complaints, reporting of complaints, and where to report
complaints including information on the Office of Health Facility Complaints and the
Common Entry Point;

(7) consumer advocacy services of the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care,
Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Managed Care
Ombudsman at the Department of Human Services, county managed care advocates, or
other relevant advocacy services; and

(8) review of the types of home care services the employee will be providing and the
provider's scope of licensure.

new text begin (b) In addition to the topics listed in paragraph (a), orientation may also contain training
on providing services to clients with hearing loss. Any training on hearing loss provided
under this subdivision must be high quality and research-based, may include online training,
and must include training on one or more of the following topics:
new text end

new text begin (1) an explanation of age-related hearing loss and how it manifests itself, its prevalence,
and challenges it poses to communication;
new text end

new text begin (2) health impacts related to untreated age-related hearing loss, such as increased
incidence of dementia, falls, hospitalizations, isolation, and depression; or
new text end

new text begin (3) information about strategies and technology that may enhance communication and
involvement, including communication strategies, assistive listening devices, hearing aids,
visual and tactile alerting devices, communication access in real time, and closed captions.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2018.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 144A.4796, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Required annual training.

new text begin (a) new text end All staff that perform direct home care services
must complete at least eight hours of annual training for each 12 months of employment.
The training may be obtained from the home care provider or another source and must
include topics relevant to the provision of home care services. The annual training must
include:

(1) training on reporting of maltreatment of minors under section 626.556 and
maltreatment of vulnerable adults under section 626.557, whichever is applicable to the
services provided;

(2) review of the home care bill of rights in section 144A.44;

(3) review of infection control techniques used in the home and implementation of
infection control standards including a review of hand-washing techniques; the need for
and use of protective gloves, gowns, and masks; appropriate disposal of contaminated
materials and equipment, such as dressings, needles, syringes, and razor blades; disinfecting
reusable equipment; disinfecting environmental surfaces; and reporting of communicable
diseases; and

(4) review of the provider's policies and procedures relating to the provision of home
care services and how to implement those policies and procedures.

new text begin (b) In addition to the topics listed in paragraph (a), annual training may also contain
training on providing services to clients with hearing loss. Any training on hearing loss
provided under this subdivision must be high quality and research-based, may include online
training, and must include training on one or more of the following topics:
new text end

new text begin (1) an explanation of age-related hearing loss and how it manifests itself, its prevalence,
and challenges it poses to communication;
new text end

new text begin (2) health impacts related to untreated age-related hearing loss, such as increased
incidence of dementia, falls, hospitalizations, isolation, and depression; or
new text end

new text begin (3) information about strategies and technology that may enhance communication and
involvement, including communication strategies, assistive listening devices, hearing aids,
visual and tactile alerting devices, communication access in real time, and closed captions.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2018.
new text end