The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is issuing updated guidance regarding the certification of temporary nurse aides (TNAs). This updates the guidance in Medicaid bulletin 22-017 . The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved South Carolina’s request for an extension of the 1135 waiver of the requirements contained in 42CFR§483.35(d) Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities. This waiver allowed TNAs to continue working while they were actively working toward completion of testing and certification requirements. This waiver will expire on the last day of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency (PHE), May 11, 2023 .

Nursing facilities will have four months (through Sept. 10, 2023) to ensure all nurse aides who are hired prior to the end of the PHE have completed a state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP/CEP). Nurse aides hired after the end of the PHE will have up to four months from their date of hire to complete a state-approved NATCEP/CEP.

Additional information detailing steps for a TNA to become a nurse aide is available in the SCDHHS guidance dated Aug. 19, 2022 . 

Providers with questions about the policy changes announced in this bulletin should submit their questions to SCNAR@scdhhs.gov .

Thank you for your continued support of the South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid program.

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