The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) published Provider Letter No. 16-43 – Rule Amendments in Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 40, Part 1, Chapter 95, Medication Aides Program Requirements. This letter relates to new rules and amended existing rules in 40 TAC Chapter 95, Medication Aides Program.
The changes introduce updates to business language and procedures; affords clarifications to current practices; and coincides with revisions to the medication aide curriculum, which will be effective on January 1, 2017.
This provider letter is in response to 40 TAC Chanters 95 rule changes which added a new section to provide that DADS does not issue or renew a permit if an applicant or a medication aide is listed as unemployable on the Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR), listed as revoked on the Nurse Aide Registry (NAR), or has been convicted of certain offenses. The amendments also specify criteria used to determine if a renewal application is late and allow DADS to use an applicant's email address of record as contact information. Certain practices, currently described as exceptions to prohibited practices, are listed as permissible practices. The rule further clarifies that any practice not listed in the rule is prohibited. Throughout the chapter, the amendments change the term "permit holder" to "medication aide" to be consistent and to use a defined term. In addition. The rule amendments also added a new section to implement Senate Bill (S.B.) 807 and S.B. 1307, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, which amended Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 55, Licensing of Military Service Members, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses. Additional changes included new definitions of terms related to these provisions and a new section that addresses several areas that relate to issuing medication aide permits to military service members, military veterans, and military spouses. Lastly, throughout the chapter, grammatical and editorial changes were made for clarity and consistency, and to correct formatting structure.
You can access the amended rules for Chapter 95 Licensing Standards for Medication Aides to view all the revisions. If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact a Medication Aide program specialist at (512) 438-2025. If you would like more information, you may also email credential@dads.state.tx.us.