Proposed Home Health Training Legislation Seeks to Permit On-Line Training

CAHSAH is pleased to be working closely with Assembly Member Avelino Valencia, the author of AB 1495, which is necessary to address California's growing caregiving crisis. This bill empowers California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) to permit online or distance learning training programs for home health aide training programs. This bill will expand opportunities for individuals to obtain certification, ensuring we have a larger, qualified pool of home health aides to provide essential services for seniors and others who rely on in-home care. We are especially pleased that this bill contains provisions to authorize certified home health aides to complete their continuing education units online.

CAHSAH quickly adopted a support position on this critical workforce measure and made it a legislative priority. As California's senior population continues to grow exponentially each year, home health agencies are experiencing more hospital referrals for patients who need home health services. California must be ready with a qualified workforce to meet the growing demands of individuals who wish to receive care in their homes. With the growing advancements in online training and the requirement for an RN or LVN to provide the classroom or supervised practical training required for qualification as a certified HHA, CAHSAH is confident that AB 1495 will ensure quality care.

Certified home health aide training programs are very limited throughout the state and many counties do not offer training programs. Creating the authorization for completing training online will greatly improve access to training throughout the entire state and especially in California's rural areas.

We are confident that AB 1495 will be enacted into law.  This measure is currently in the Senate and is expected to pass both houses of the Legislature and be sent to the Governor.  CAHSAH will be working closely with CDPH to ensure that we become a certified home health training provider.  Please watch for future updates on this important measure.