Debate grows over bill to let trained aides give routine meds in nursing homes and assisted living

Mairead Painter, the state long‑term care ombudsman, told the Aging Committee she opposes House Bill 6773, saying "the administration of medication is a clinical task that requires medical knowledge, judgment, and the oversight that licensed nurses provide." Painter said delegation to aides could reduce nurse oversight and increase medication errors for residents with complex conditions.

The bill would permit trained nursing aides and assisted‑living aides to administer some medications in nursing homes and assisted living settings if delegated by a nurse. Supporters said the proposal is permissive, creates a career ladder for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and could free licensed nurses to focus on clinical assessments.

"This certification will provide a career ladder and a pathway to advance roles in the growing field of aging services for CNAs," Megan Morelli, president of LeadingAge Connecticut, told the committee. The Connecticut Association of Healthcare Facilities, the Connecticut Center for Assisted Living and several facility administrators also testified in favor, saying states that use medication technicians have not shown higher error rates and that delegation can improve timely medication delivery.

Matthew Barrett, president of the Connecticut Association of Healthcare Facilities, cited national research in support and recommended the bill explicitly make delegation permissive rather than mandatory and limit injection administration. Sean Mastroianni, a licensed nursing home administrator, and Emily Kelly, an RN and director of resident health services at a retirement community, said delegation could reduce medication timing problems and help staff recruitment and retention.

Opponents included the Connecticut Nurses Association and unionized CNAs. Kim Sandor, executive director of the Connecticut Nurses Association, urged caution and noted the delegation requires an RN to assess readiness, supervise and monitor delegated tasks. Donna Bernier of SEIU 1199 New England and multiple CNAs who spoke during public comment said current staffing levels leave CNAs overburdened and added tasks would worsen care. Marybeth Cimino, a CNA with 45 years' experience, said shifts sometimes leave one aide for dozens of residents and that adding med passes would force corners to be cut.

Several CNAs and frontline staff described broad, variable workloads and said they feared being required to take on med passes even if certified. Opponents also raised liability and continuity concerns: who would do assessments, who would supervise agency nurses, and how the change would be operationalized on floors with high staff turnover.

Proponents said safeguards in other states can be modeled, and requested language clarifying that (1) delegation is not required, (2) the nurse maintains authority to refuse delegation for particular residents or medications, and (3) certification and scope be regulated by the Department of Public Health. Supporters also proposed excluding injectable medications and preserving nurse staffing minimums.

The hearing included multiple requests from lawmakers for more data and pilot or regulatory language to address training, supervision, and indemnity. Several legislators said they wanted additional input from the Department of Public Health and from nurses and providers before advancing the bill.

Committee discussion ended with no vote recorded during the public hearing; members heard hours of testimony from ombudsmen, providers, nurses, union representatives, CNAs, and residents. The bill will proceed through the legislative process with further committee consideration expected.

Ending: Lawmakers said they will weigh training standards and safeguards recommended by agencies and stakeholders before deciding whether to advance HB 6773. Additional written materials and state agency analyses were requested during the hearing.