Medication aides; provide for certification of by State Department of Health.

HB 834 establishes a certification system for medication aides working in Mississippi nursing facilities. It requires aides to complete a minimum 15-hour training program and pass an exam to be certified by the State Department of Health. Nursing facilities must implement written policies for medication aides, disclose their use to residents and families, and maintain accurate medication records. The bill specifies which medications aides may administer (oral, inhalation, topical, eye/ear/nasal sprays, insulin, and anaphylaxis treatments) but excludes other injections or routes. The State Department of Health will maintain a registry for certified aides and can deny, revoke, or refuse renewal for failing standards or violating the act.