The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is issuing updated guidance regarding the certification of temporary nurse aides. This updates the prior provider alert dated Aug. 19, 2022. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved South Carolina’s request for an extension of the 1135 waiver of the requirements contained in 42 CFR §483.35(d) Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities. This allows temporary nurse aides to continue working while they are actively working toward completion of testing and certification requirements. The waiver extends flexibilities until April 6, 2023, or the end of the federally declared public health emergency (PHE), whichever date comes first.

Additional information regarding reporting requirements for the waiver will be issued.

A comprehensive list of the COVID-19-specific policy guidance SCDHHS issued during the PHE is publicly available at www.scdhhs.gov/COVID19. Providers with questions about the policy changes announced in this bulletin should submit their questions to SCNAR@scdhhs.gov

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