Chapter DHS 129

DHS 129.11(2)(a) (a) Wisconsin’s Caregiver Program under ss. 50.065 and 146.40, Stats., including background check requirements, the need to promptly report any misconduct allegations, the definitions of abuse or neglect of a client or misappropriation of a client’s property and the rehabilitation review requirements.

DHS 129.11(2)(b) (b) The client population who will be served by the feeding assistant in a program based in a nursing home. The facility-based training program curriculum shall include training specific to the identified population types. This training shall include all of the following, but is not limited to:

DHS 129.11(2)(b)1. 1. Characteristics of the population, such as the client’s physical, social and mental health needs, and specific medications or treatments needed by the residents.

DHS 129.11(2)(b)2. 2. Program services needed by the clients.

DHS 129.11(2)(b)3. 3. Meeting the needs of clients with dual diagnoses, such as co-occurrence of mental health disorders and alcohol or drug dependence or abuse, and maintaining or increasing the client’s social participation.

DHS 129.11(2)(b)4. 4. Self direction, self care and vocational abilities.

DHS 129.11(2)(b)5. 5. Instruction of feeding assistants who have been trained by another facility’s training program, for the current entity’s specific selected population.

DHS 129.11(3) (3) Programs may choose to add increased training requirements.

DHS 129.11(4) (4) The program determines the number of extra hours required for the training topics listed under sub. (2). However, the training shall be in addition to the minimum 8 hours required for the federally mandated topics under s. DHS 129.11 (1) (a) to (h).

DHS 129.11(5) (5) Training programs shall stress that the only direct, hands-on duty a feeding assistant is permitted to perform is assisting residents who have no complicated feeding problems to eat or drink.

DHS 129.11 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.12 DHS 129.12 Feeding assistant training program curriculum.

DHS 129.12(1) (1) Feeding assistant training programs shall use a training curriculum, which has been pre-approved by the department and determined to comply with the federally mandated topics under s. DHS 129.11 (1) (a) to (h).

DHS 129.12(2) (2) Feeding assistant training programs shall use the department of health services, division of quality assurance video, The Wisconsin Caregiver Program: A Blueprint for Excellence, to provide feeding assistant students instruction regarding the requirements of the caregiver program. A copy of the video is provided to the feeding assistant training program by the department.

DHS 129.12 Note Note: Link to the WI Caregiver program video and guide at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p6/p63161.pdf and https://vimeo.com/546007413.

DHS 129.12(3) (3) Training programs that are conducted in nursing homes shall submit to the department proposed training materials to provide feeding assistants instruction regarding the facility’s selected resident population.

DHS 129.12(4) (4) Although the pre-approved standardized training curriculums include additional skill information, such as, intake and output and special care needs for residents with dysphasia, the instructor shall emphasize that the feeding assistant may not be permitted to perform any other hands-on duty, beyond assisting residents who have no complicated feeding problems to eat and drink.

DHS 129.12 Note Note: Trained feeding assistants may identify the amounts of food and fluid consumed according to facility policy and procedures.

DHS 129.12 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.13 DHS 129.13 Feeding assistant training program completion.

DHS 129.13(1) (1) A person may not provide hands-on assistance with feeding or hydrating residents unless the person has successfully completed all of the following:

DHS 129.13(1)(a) (a) A training program approved by the state for feeding assistants, including additional instruction on the selected resident population and the Wisconsin Caregiver Program requirements.

DHS 129.13(1)(b) (b) After completing the training course, a state-approved standardized written quiz with a score of 75 percent or greater. Individuals may request the quiz to be administered orally. Instructors shall consider the needs of persons who have limited English proficiency or literacy difficulties.

DHS 129.13(1)(c) (c) A state-approved standardized skill demonstration, determining hand washing and resident feeding competency with a score of 75 percent or greater.

DHS 129.13(2) (2) The instructor shall observe the trainee’s performance and initial and date each skill to verify the satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance.

DHS 129.13(3) (3) Students who do not successfully pass the initial competency evaluation will be allowed the opportunity to review the training materials and retake the test. Programs can establish the number of times a candidate may retake the test. However, the program shall document the failure, opportunity for review and subsequent retake testing date.

DHS 129.13(5) (5) The instructor shall issue a state-approved certificate to each participant who successfully completes the feeding assistant program, documenting the name of the participant, the training program and the date of successful completion.

DHS 129.13 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.14 DHS 129.14 Standards for instructors of feeding assistant training programs.

DHS 129.14(1) (1) The feeding assistant training programs shall determine the appropriate qualifications for their instructors based on the needs of the selected clients and the nursing home.

DHS 129.14(2) (2) Training programs shall provide the name and qualifications of the proposed instructor to the department.

DHS 129.14(3) (3) The primary instructor may supplement the course by including other individuals for lecture or demonstration whose qualifications or experience add benefit to the training program.

DHS 129.14(4) (4) A paid feeding assistant is not permitted to lead the training of another paid feeding assistant student.

DHS 129.14 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.15 DHS 129.15 Feeding assistant training program approval process.

DHS 129.15(1) (1) A nursing home wishing to operate a feeding assistant training program shall apply for approval from the department on a form provided by the department with the nursing home’s proposed selected resident population, curriculum, and proposed feeding assistant instructor information.

DHS 129.15(2) (2) The department shall review the application and supporting materials to determine whether to approve or deny the feeding assistant training program. The department will issue a written notice regarding the decision of whether to approve or deny the application within 45 calendar days of receiving a complete application.

DHS 129.15(3) (3) Upon approval, the department shall issue, to the feeding assistant program, the standardized training curriculum the program selects, a Wisconsin Caregiver Program video cassette, standardized competency evaluation materials, feeding assistant training program, certificate template, and a feeding assistant roster.

DHS 129.15 Note Note: Link to the WI Caregiver program video and guide at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p6/p63161.pdf and https://vimeo.com/546007413.

DHS 129.15 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.16 DHS 129.16 Feeding assistant employment requirements.

DHS 129.16(1) (1) A nursing home may not employ or use any person as a feeding assistant unless the person is at least 16 years of age and has:

DHS 129.16(1)(a) (a) Successfully passed a caregiver background check, that includes no employment or licensure-prohibitive offenses in s. 146.40 (4r), Stats., or s. 48.685, Stats.

DHS 129.16(1)(b) (b) Successfully completed a feeding assistant training and competency evaluation program and been determined competent to provide feeding and hydration services to residents.

DHS 129.16(2) (2) Nursing homes shall ensure feeding assistants only serve residents who have no complicated feeding problems with eating and hydration.

DHS 129.16(3) (3) Residents with complicated feeding problems, as defined in s. DHS 129.03 (10) shall be fed and hydrated by either a licensed health care professional or a nurse aide.

DHS 129.16(4) (4) The facility shall base their resident selection for feeding assistants based on the charge nurse’s assessment and each resident’s latest assessment and plan of care.

DHS 129.16(5) (5) Feeding assistants who are 16 or 17 years of age shall work under the direct supervision of an RN or LPN.

DHS 129.16(6) (6) Feeding assistants 18 years and older shall work under the general supervision of an RN, or an LPN. The feeding assistant is not permitted to perform other nursing or nursing-related duties including, but not limited to, measuring or recording intake or output, transferring, or toileting, etc.

DHS 129.16(7) (7) A nursing home may not employ or use any individual who has successfully completed a feeding assistant training and competency evaluation program as a feeding assistant unless that nursing home has a department-approved feeding assistant training program.

DHS 129.16 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.17 DHS 129.17 Feeding assistant training program requirements. Approved feeding assistant training programs shall submit all of the following information to the department:

DHS 129.17(1) (1) The program designee shall submit for approval a substantial change in the program to the department in writing. A program may not implement the proposed change in the program without the department’s written approval. In this subdivision, “substantial change” means a change in the program designee, primary instructor under s. DHS 129.14 (2) and the curriculum under s. DHS 129.12.

DHS 129.17(2) (2) The program designee shall submit an annual report to the department on a form provided by the department, and shall indicate the number of feeding assistants who were trained and tested during the year, including the number of individuals who dropped out or who failed the program.

DHS 129.17 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.18 DHS 129.18 Feeding assistant training program record retention requirements.

DHS 129.18(1) (1) Feeding assistant training programs shall maintain all of the following records for at least 3 years:

DHS 129.18(1)(a) (a) All student skill checklists, written examinations, certificates and other relevant training records.

DHS 129.18(1)(b) (b) Documentation of the training conducted and identification of the instructor who conducted the training.

DHS 129.18(1)(c) (c) Records of all individuals who have successfully completed the feeding assistant training and competency testing program.

DHS 129.18(2) (2) Training programs shall maintain the security of the test materials and certificate templates, to ensure disclosure or forgery does not occur.

DHS 129.18(3) (3) Nursing homes employing feeding assistants shall maintain all of the following personnel and other records for at least 3 years after feeding assistant has competed training:

DHS 129.18(3)(a) (a) A feeding assistant roster, recording all individuals employed by the facility as feeding assistants who successfully completed the feeding assistant training and competency evaluation, including a written or oral exam and a skill demonstration.

DHS 129.18(3)(b) (b) A copy of each feeding assistant’s training certificate, kept in the person’s personnel file.

DHS 129.18(3)(c) (c) The selected resident’s medical record, documenting that no complicated feeding condition exists.

DHS 129.18(3)(d) (d) The feeding assistant’s annual in-service session(s), relating to feeding assistant duties.

DHS 129.18(3)(e) (e) Annual evaluation documentation, determining a feeding assistant’s continued competence in feeding residents.

DHS 129.18 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.19 DHS 129.19 Feeding assistant training program prohibitions.

DHS 129.19(1) (1) The department will review substandard quality of care citations made under 42 CFR 483 that result in a prohibition of a nurse aide training or competency evaluation program for a nursing home, in order to determine the appropriate action for a feeding assistant training program. Program decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

DHS 129.19(2) (2) Any nursing home citation that directly relates to a feeding assistant training program may result in termination by the department of the feeding assistant training program.

DHS 129.19(3) (3) Feeding assistant training programs may request a waiver of the feeding assistant training prohibition by submitting a request in writing to the department. The department shall issue a written decision, either approving or denying the request, within 45 calendar days of receiving a complete waiver request.

DHS 129.19 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

DHS 129.20 DHS 129.20 Feeding assistant training program appeals.

DHS 129.20(1) (1) For any of the following department actions, a feeding assistant training program may request a hearing by filing an appeal with the department of administration’s division of hearings and appeals.

DHS 129.20(1)(a) (a) A denial of an application to operate a feeding assistant training program.

DHS 129.20(1)(b) (b) A denial of an approval of a feeding assistant instructor.

DHS 129.20(1)(c) (c) A termination or suspension of an approved feeding assistant training program.

DHS 129.20(1)(d) (d) An imposed plan of correction.

DHS 129.20(1)(e) (e) A denial of a request for a waiver or the revocation of a waiver.

DHS 129.20(2) (2) A request for a hearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with the department of administration’s division of hearings and appeals no later than 30 days after the date of the denial, suspension or revocation. An appeal is considered filed when received by the division of hearings and appeals.

DHS 129.20 Note Note: The address of the Department of Administration’s Division of Hearings and Appeals is P.O. Box 7875, Madison, Wisconsin 53707. Appeals may be delivered in person to that office at 5005 University Avenue, Room 201, Madison, Wisconsin.

DHS 129.20 History History: CR 08-042: cr. register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08.

subch. IV of ch. DHS 129 Subchapter IV — Medication Aides

DHS 129.21 DHS 129.21 Medication aide training program application and approval process.

DHS 129.21(1) (1) Approval process.

DHS 129.21(1)(a) (a) All medication aide training programs based in nursing homes shall be approved by the department.

DHS 129.21(1)(b) (b) Nursing homes and other entities wishing to operate a nursing home medication aide program shall submit a proposal for developing a medication aide course. The proposal shall include documentation of client needs, staff resources to provide the training and a description of the physical location of the training site. The proposal will be approved or denied by the department, and the department shall issue a decision within 30 calendar days of a completed proposal submittal.

DHS 129.21(1)(c) (c) After a medication aide program proposal is approved, medication aide course curriculum, course outline, instructor qualifications and other materials shall be submitted to and approved by the department before the training program can be implemented. The department will issue a decision on a completed course submittal within 90 calendar days.