Under the authority of Article III, Sections 1 and 24 of the Constitution of Alaska and AS 44.17.060, I hereby designate the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Division of Occupational Licensing, as the state agency responsible for the implementation of nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs and registration requirements for nurse aides employed in Alaskan long-term care nursing facilities participating in the medicare or medicaid programs. These requirements are contained in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-203), as it may be amended from time to time.

WHEREAS, the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Division of Occupational Licensing, serves as the central state agency with expertise in the licensure of businesses and professions and the Board of Nursing, within that division, is responsible for establishing standards for nurse aide competency;

WHEREAS, the performance of these functions by this division would be cost-effective and efficient to avoid the creation of an additional administrative structure to perform them;

WHEREAS, the registration of nurse aides is essential to allow Alaska's nursing facilities to continue to participate in the federally funded medicare and medicaid programs;

WHEREAS, the loss of these federal monies could mean a reduction in access and quality of nursing care for needy and elderly institutionalized Alaskans;

WHEREAS, the implementation of standards for training and the registration of nurse aides may promote and enhance the quality of care provided to these Alaskans;

I, therefore, designate the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Division of Occupational Licensing, as the state agency responsible for implementation of the training, certification, and registration requirements of nurse aides under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-203), as it may be amended from time to time. I find that this designation will promote the continued access and availability of quality nursing care services in the state and allow the state to remain compliant with federal law to assure Alaskans continued access to nursing care services funded by the medicare and medicaid programs.

This order takes effect on August 4, 1989.

DATED at Fairbanks, Alaska, this 4th day of August, 1989.

By: S/S Steve Cowper            
Steve Cowper                    
Governor of the State of Alaska