A. Drug administration courses shall be established by the office of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health in conjunction with the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners and as approved by the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. Persons who have successfully completed the course and passed a qualifying examination shall be permitted to administer certain medications to residents of facilities operated by the office for citizens with developmental disabilities or community homes for persons with developmental disabilities funded through the Louisiana Department of Health or the Department of Children and Family Services and to persons receiving in-home Medicaid home- and community-based services and shall be known as medication attendants. The course shall include but not be limited to instruction of the legal aspects, roles, and responsibilities of drug administration, definitions, terminology, classification, measurement, identification, effects, distribution, and the care and handling of drugs.
B. Fees for the drug administration courses shall be determined by the office of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. The cost of implementation will be reimbursed to providers with contracts by the Louisiana Department of Health or the Department of Children and Family Services.
C. The Louisiana Department of Health shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to provide for the certification of medication attendants, the renewal, suspension, or revocation of such certification, and an appeals process for persons who have been denied certification or renewal, or whose certification has been suspended or revoked. The department shall also promulgate rules for the assessment of fees for instructor training courses.