HOUSE  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  No. 4914

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 25, 2024.                         

The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Bill regulating central service technicians (House, No. 2200), reports recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefor the accompanying bill (House, No. 4914).

For the committee,

AARON MICHLEWITZ.

        FILED ON: 7/25/2024

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4914

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act regulating central service technicians.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 245. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Central service technician”, any person who decontaminates, inspects, assembles, packages and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices being used by a health care facility.

“Health care facility”, any “hospital” as defined in section 52 or any “rural hospital” as defined in said section 52 or surgical services that are provided by a free-standing ambulatory surgery center, whether inpatient or outpatient, conducted for charity or for profit and whether or not subject to section 25C. “Health care facility” shall not include dental or a private office of a health care practitioner.

“Health care practitioner”, any person licensed or registered under this chapter or chapter 112, including any intern, resident, fellow or medical officer who conducts or assists with the performance of surgery.

(b) A health care facility shall not employ or otherwise retain the services of a central service technician unless such person:

(i) has successfully passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central service technicians, and holds and maintains 1 of the following credentials administered by a nationally accredited central service technician credentialing organization: (A) the certified registered central service technician credential; (B) the certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential; or (C) a substantially equivalent credential; or

(ii) provides evidence that the person was employed by a health care facility on or before December 31, 2024 or was retained by a health care facility on or before December 31, 2024 to perform the services of a central service technician.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a central service technician who does not meet the requirements of clause (ii) of subsection (b) shall have 18 months from the date of hire to obtain the certified registered central service technician credential or the certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential.

(d) A person who qualifies to function as a central service technician in a health care facility under clauses (i) or (ii) of subsection (b) shall annually complete 10 hours of continuing education credits to remain qualified to function as a central service technician. The continuing education required under this subsection shall be in the area related to the functions of a central service technician.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the following persons from performing the tasks or functions of a central service technician:

(i) a health care practitioner;

(ii) a student or intern performing the functions of a central service technician under the direct supervision of a health care practitioner as part of the student’s or intern’s training or internship; or

(iii) a person who holds or maintains a registration, certification or license by a nationally accredited credentialing organization to perform health services.

(f) A health care facility shall, upon the written request of a central service technician, verify, in writing, the central service technician’s dates of employment or the contract period during which the central service technician provided services to the health care facility.

SECTION 2. The commissioner of public health may promulgate regulations necessary to carry out this act. Such regulations shall be adopted not later than 90 days after the effective date of this act.

SECTION 3. Section 1 shall take effect 180 days after the effective date of this act.