TO REPLACE THE DEFINED TERM "MEDICATION ASSISTIVE PERSON" WITH THE DEFINED TERM "CERTIFIED MEDICATION ASSISTANT" THROUGHOUT § 17-87-701 ET SEQ.

HB 1182 updates Arkansas law by replacing the term "Medication Assistive Person" with "Certified Medication Assistant" throughout existing regulations. It establishes specific certification requirements, including 115 hours of training, passing an exam, and maintaining active status on the state's nurse aide registry. Certified Medication Assistants may only administer certain nonprescription and prescription drugs (like oral, topical, or insulin injections) under a licensed nurse's supervision at designated facilities, and cannot handle controlled substances, IV medications, or perform patient assessments. This bill directly affects individuals working in nursing facilities who administer medications, standardizing their title and clarifying their scope of practice.