During the pandemic, testing and training for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Home Health Aides (HHAs) was shut down for months. To meet staffing needs, the Board of Nursing granted waivers allowing health care entities to hire CNAs and HHAS who were licensed in other jurisdictions. Those waivers have ended and based upon a survey that the LTC Coalition just completed, long-term care providers will lose hundreds of staff as a result. Councilmember Vincent Gray has introduced the Preserve our Healthcare Workforce Emergency Amendment Act of 2021. This emergency legislation extends those waivers until August 10, giving those CNAs and HHAS time to get their DC certification. During its October 5, 2021 Legislative Meeting, the DC Council will take up this critical bill.
Read an LTC Action Alert on the bill here. View the results of an LTC survey on the impact of the waivers expiring here.