E-News Updates

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has officially opened the 2027 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Portal. Organizations interested in applying for a Quality Award are encouraged to submit their Intent to Apply (ITA) by Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 8:00 pm Eastern.

Governor Healey has signed into law legislation establishing, for the first time, a statewide licensure framework for home care agencies. The law requires all home care agencies that directly employ or contract with home care workers to obtain a license from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). Licenses will be issued for three-year terms and may be renewed, while agencies operating without a license will be prohibited from providing or advertising home care services.

It is that time of year when employers may be hiring newly graduated registered and/or practical nurses who have not yet taken their licensure exams. Employers are reminded of the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) guidance for nursing practice of graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs. This guidance was issued following Governor Healey’s signing of Chapter 88 of the Acts of 2024 into law.

MassHealth has released preliminary information on several federal Medicaid changes enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3), including eligibility changes for certain immigrants that will start in October, and other changes impacting some members, like work and education requirements and more frequent renewals, beginning in January. In addition, MassHealth has scheduled two webinars covering the latest information on these changes.

As a reminder, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will transition Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reporting to iQIES effective August 17, 2026. Beginning on that date, all PBJ staffing data must be submitted through the new iQIES platform. 

The Department of Public Health (DPH) has released its final Study and Report on the Need and Feasibility of Qualified Professional Guardians, required by Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024. The study examined whether professional guardians could help indigent individuals obtain necessary medical care and reduce hospital discharge barriers.

National Assisted Living Week (NALW) will be held September 13-19, 2026, with the theme “Shining Through the Years”.

Register Now!