Certified Medication Aide means an employee of a long-term care facility who satisfies eligibility criteria established by the Department and has successfully completed the required training and competency testing developed by the Department to administer medications to residents of long-term care facilities.

Certified Nurse Aide or CNA means a person who has successfully completed the training and competency evaluation required by 42 CFR s. 483.150 et seq. and holds a current certification as a CNA issued by the Department.

Commissioner means the Commissioner of Public Health or their designee.

Department means the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Long-Term Care Facility means a facility licensed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111, § 71 and 105 CMR 153.000: Licensure Procedure and Suitability Requirements for Long-term Care Facilities.

Medication means any non-narcotic drug, prescription or non-prescription that may be administered via oral, sublingual, buccal, inhalation, spray on oral mucosa, topical, nasal, ocular, or otic route.

Narcotic or Narcotic Drug shall have the same meaning as the statutory definition of that term set out in M.G.L. c. 94C, § 1: Definitions.

Resident means any individual receiving care in a long-term care facility.

Training means online or in-person instruction approved by the Department for the education of certified medication aides regarding administration of medications.