PROPOSED ORDER
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Statutes interpreted:
Statutory authority:
Explanation of agency authority:
The Nursing Home Administrator Examining Board is generally empowered by ss. 15.08 (5) (b) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., to promulgate rules that will provide guidance within the profession and interpret the statutes it administers. 2013 Wisconsin Act 114 provides that neither the Department, nor any of its attached boards, may require applicants for licensure to complete their post-secondary education before being eligible to take their licensure exam. This legislation prompted the Nursing Home Administrator Examining Board to exercise its rule-making authority to amend pertinent sections of Wis. Admin. Code ch. NHA 1 to 5 in order to give guidance within the profession related to entrance to examinations. Related statute or rule:
Wis. Admin. Code chs. NHA 2 and 4 Plain language analysis:
These rules address changes instituted by the passage of 2013 Wisconsin Act 114. The Act requires the Department and its attached boards to allow applicants for licensure to take their credentialing examination before completing any post-secondary education, program of study, or specialized courses. These proposed rules carryout the legislative intent by amending Wis. Admin. Code chs. NHA 2 and 4. These rules also address the reinstatement of a license by adding the term to Wis. Admin. Code s. NHA 4.02. The new provision sets forth what applicants should do to reinstate a suspended or revoked license with unmet disciplinary requirements. SECTION 1. deletes the provision requiring education as a prerequisite to sit for the examination.
SECTION 2. amends a provision by removing language referring to the administration of an examination.
SECTION 3. amends the first note under s. NHA 2.02 (4) by updating where applicants can receive applications. SECTION 4. repeals the second note under s. NHA 2.02 (4) and the provision regarding examination requirements. SECTION 5. amends the first note under s. NHA 4.01 (1) (c) by updating where applicants can receive applications and adds education as a perquisite for licensure. SECTION 7. creates new educational requirements for licensure.
SECTION 8. updates citations regarding fees that accompany applications.
SECTION 9. sets forth the requirements for reinstatement of a license.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
42 USCS § 1396g sets forth the federal requirements for licensure of nursing home administrators. The statute states it is the function and duty of state agencies to, “develop, impose, and enforce standards which must be met by individuals in order to receive a license as a nursing home administrator…” 42 USCS § 1396g (c) (1). This proposed rule institutes a new standard with regard to nursing home administrator examination requirements. By instituting this new standard, the Nursing Home Administrator Examining Board is in line with 42 USCS § 1396g (c) (1) which allows state agencies to regulate licensed nursing home administrators.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: Nursing Home administrators are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation via the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, 225 ILCS 70. Illinois requires applicants for a license as a nursing home administrator to be either a graduate of a college or university or to have completed a course of instruction regarding the operation of nursing homes that is approved by the Department. 225 ILCS 70/8 (e).
Iowa: Nursing home administrators in Iowa are regulated by the Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators in the Bureau of Professional Licensure in the Iowa Department of Public Health. Applicants must take the approved national examination to be eligible for licensure. 645 IAC 141.2.
Michigan: Licensure as a nursing home administrator in Michigan requires either having sufficient education and training in the fields of study set forth in statute, or having experience of not less than 5 years of employment as a chief executive or administrative officer at a hospital. MCLS 333.17309 (3).
Minnesota: The Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators of the Minnesota Health Licensing Board regulates nursing home administrators in Minnesota. Minnesota requires applicants for nursing home administrator licensure to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited postsecondary institution as well as passing the national examination for nursing home administrator and the state examination which test Minnesota laws and rules governing nursing facility operations. Minn. R. 6400.6000.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
