Assigned to HEA                                                                                                                                           AS ENACTED

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FINAL REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2359

 

dialysis technicians; standards; quality committee

 

Purpose

 

Requires hemodialysis treatment facilities to use certified hemodialysis technicians.

 

Background

 

The Council of Nephrology Nurses and Technicians defines a hemodialysis technician as a person who provides assistance, under the supervision of a licensed physician or registered nurse, in the care of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment.  A technician’s responsibilities include establishing access to the bloodstream and determining the amount of fluid volume to be removed in a single treatment after reviewing established criteria and physician orders for appropriate prescription treatment delivery.

 

Currently, several states regulate hemodialysis technicians; Arizona does not regulate this health care profession.  According to the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Coalition of Arizona and the Department of Health Services (DHS), there are approximately 500 hemodialysis technicians treating between 4,000 and 5,000 patients at 90 hemodialysis units in this State.  Of those technicians, 83 have voluntarily sought and maintained certification from the Board of Nephrology Examiners, Nursing and Technology. Application for certification through this organization requires the applicant to complete high school (or the equivalent), complete an accredited hemodialysis program or at least one year of experience in an ESRD facility or in nephrology technology and successfully complete the certification examination.

 

Two years ago, the Senate Health and House of Representatives Health Committees of Reference (COR) held a sunrise hearing to determine whether to recommend regulation for hemodialysis technicians.  The COR recommended the Legislature require hemodialysis treatment facilities to use only hemodialysis technicians who are certified by a national certification organization. H.B. 2359 requires all hemodialysis treatment facilities to use certified hemodialysis technicians.

 

According to DHS, there is no cost associated with this bill.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Requires, beginning on April 1, 2003, hemodialysis treatment facilities to use hemodialysis technicians who are certified by a national association that certifies hemodialysis technicians.

 

2.      Classifies, beginning on April 1, 2003, an employee who provides hemodialysis treatment and who is not certified as a hemodialysis technician trainee.

3.      Authorizes a hemodialysis technician trainee who has passed the national certification examination within two years after employment to provide hemodialysis treatment in any facility.

 

4.      Requires DHS to establish in rule appropriate clinical practice restrictions for hemodialysis technician trainees.

 

5.      Requires hemodialysis treatment facilities to maintain verification of certification in the technician’s personnel file.

 

6.      Defines “hemodialysis technician” as a person who, under the direct supervision of a physician or nurse, provides assistance in the treatment of patients who receive hemodialysis treatment for end stage renal disease.

 

7.      Exempts DHS from the rule making process for one year.

 

8.      Makes conforming and technical changes.

 

9.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

 

1.      Changes, from January 1, 2004 to April 1, 2003, the date on which hemodialysis treatment facilities must begin using certified hemodialysis technicians.

 

2.      Changes, from January 1, 2004 to April 1, 2003, the date on which noncertified employees providing hemodialysis treatment are classified as hemodialysis technician trainees.

 

3.      Eliminates the requirement of the Dialysis Quality Committee (Committee) to create a consumer quality perception tracking system.

 

4.      Removes the requirement of the Committee to recommend minimum training requirements for dialysis technicians.

 

5.      Makes conforming and technical changes.

 

Amendments Adopted by Conference Committee

 

1.      Changes, from April 1, 2005 to April 1, 2006, the date by which employees providing hemodialysis treatment must meet requirements.

 

2.      Eliminates the Committee.

 

House Action                                                               Senate Action

 

HEA                2/11/02            DPA    7-0-0-3                        HEA                3/26/02            DPA  7-0-1-0

3rd Read           2/18/02                        54-0-6-0          3rd Read           4/10/02                      27-2-1-0

Final Read        5/15/02                        57-0-3-0          Final Read        5/16/02                      25-2-3-0

 

Signed by Governor 5/21/02

Chapter 269

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

May 29, 2002