Member Resources

• Gov. Healey and Massachusetts AG Campbell Issue Guidance to Employers on Immigration and Work Authorization • HCP Vaccination Rates • CMS Posts FAQ about the SNF Validation Program • Register Now for Upcoming Education Programs!

Don't miss out on these important programs!

The 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Intent to Apply (ITA) and Portal are open. Participating in the Quality Award Program offers organizations valuable external perspectives, actionable feedback, stronger team collaboration, increased resilience, and improved performance – all leading to better care and quality of life for residents.

At the August 13th Public Health Council meeting, DPH reported a decline in health care personnel flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates for the 2024-2025 season for most licensed facilities and EMS.

In the FY 2025 SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a policy for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) who participate in the SNF Quality Reporting Program a validation (i.e., audit) process beginning in the fall of 2025 for the FY 2027 SNF QRP. This process is a similar one adopted for the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program.

On August 14, 2025, MassHealth held a Training Session in regard to the Family Assistance Pathway for Nursing Facilities. Please click here to access the Training PPT.

On Thursday, August 7, MSCA Member facility, Alliance Health at Rosewood, hosted a press conference by Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton to highlight the Medicaid impact of the new federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

On August 14, 2025, the EOHHS-led Viability and Sustainability of Long-term Care Facilities Task Force, established as part of the commonwealth’s 2024 landmark LTC reform law, issued its final report in regard to recommendations about the viability and sustainability of long-term care facilities.

On August 11, 2025, in a public hearing held by the Department of Public Health (DPH), Mass Senior Care (MSCA) testified in strong support of proposed regulations 105 CMR 775: Certified Medication Aides in Long Term Care Facilities.

Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell have issued important guidance for employers on immigration and work authorization, outlining employer rights for hiring and retaining an immigrant workforce.

• Mass Senior Care Testifies in Support of Proposed DPH Regulations for Certified Medication Aides • REMINDER: MassHealth Training Webinar on New Family Assistance Pathway for Nursing Facilities • Additional Fire Safety and Life Safety Requirement for ALRs • August Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting

• Senators Warren and Wyden Launch Probe Into UnitedHealth Group • Reminder: Certified Medication Aide Regulations Public Hearing Monday August 11th

• Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Federal DCC-Q Audit • MassHealth Training Webinar on New Family Assistance Pathway for Nursing Facilities • Congressman Seth Moulton Briefs Residents of Alliance Health at Rosewood

The 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program application cycle is now open. Participating in the Quality Award Program offers organizations valuable external perspectives, actionable feedback, stronger team collaboration, increased resilience, and improved performance – all leading to better care and quality of life for residents.

On July 31, 2025, MassHealth issued a bulletin, Nursing Facility 194, updating the requirements for the MDS 3.0 Assessments for Nursing Facility Fee for Service Payments effective July 1, 2025. This bulletin describes how MDS assessments will be used to determine payment; the responsibilities of nursing facilities when completing and submitting assessments; and the MDS audit process.

On July 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted the 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System. It includes updates to the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) program which begins on January 1, 2026. Mass Senior Care will be holding a webinar on Understanding the New Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) payment program on Tuesday, September 23 to help nursing facilities understand and prepare for the impacts of the TEAM program’s implementation.

On August 5, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue reported to the Legislature that preliminary revenue collections for July totaled $2.69 billion; $7 million or 0.3% more than actual collections in July 2024. July is the first month of the new fiscal year, and the Department of Revenue notes that these results may not necessarily be representative of the trend for the entire year.

On August 5, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law a supplemental appropriations bill that includes $259 million to cover unfunded program costs for fiscal year 2025. The supplemental budget includes a provision with respect to last year’s FY 2025 rest home rates that requires EOHHS to ensure that FY2025 rates total $4 million more than rates in effect as of January 1, 2024.

The Foundation is accepting applications for its 2025 awards up until this afternoon, Friday, August 8.

• Massachusetts AG Campbell Reaches $6 Million Settlement • CMS Adopts Updates to TEAM Program Payment Model

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CLA is offering a complimentary webinar on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 from 1pm to 2pm Central Time on the ways in which the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s tax and Medicaid policy changes will impact the health care industry.

Dr. Kap Sum Foong at Tufts Medical Center is leading a research study focusing on understanding perspectives related to penicillin allergies in the long-term care setting. Several opportunities are available for nursing facilities to share their thoughts as part of the study.

In accordance with Governor Healey’s statewide Fire and Life Safety Initiative, ALRs must comply no later than August 15, 2025, with completing the Fire Safety Assessment Survey and submission of their Emergency Preparedness Plan. The requirement for Resident and Family Notification of Safety Protocols should have been completed by July 26, 2025.

On July 30, 2025, CMS issued revisions to QSO 25-23-ALL Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The revisions include the suspension of focused infection control surveys as part of the standard survey process.

Due to the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) quarterly submission deadline on August 14, 2025, the iQIES Service Center is anticipating a significant increase in the volume of calls and emails.

The Transitions from Acute Care to Post-Acute Care (TACPAC) Task Force was established under Section 25 of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024, the LTC Reform Law, to study and propose recommendations to address acute care hospital throughput challenges and the impact of persistent delays in discharging patients from acute to post-acute care settings. On July 31, The Task Force concluded its work with the submission of its report to the Legislature.