E-News Updates

As the Governor and Legislature are actively working on this year’s state budget, we urge you to please contact Governor Healey in support of funding for quality nursing facility resident care and the dedicated staff who make this care possible.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DoR) released December state revenues showing that the Commonwealth collected $167 million below projected benchmarks, which cut year-to-date surplus funds from approximately $200 million to just around $20 million in FY 2026. The Healey Administration and lawmakers are closely monitoring revenue collections to determine if any corrective action will be necessary should state revenues fall below benchmarks.

As part of its Nursing Facility Transparency Modernization Initiative, the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) has updated its Nursing Facility Cost Reports webpage with the posting of calendar year 2024 SNF, Realty and Management Company reports.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a clinical advisory related to the 2025-2026 seasonal influenza epidemic given the rising number of cases occurring in Massachusetts and nationwide.

As respiratory illness season begins to ramp up, nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of respiratory illness to residents and staff.  Nursing facilities must comply with the DPH’s guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness and continue to identify and monitor respiratory illness metrics to indicate when there are increased levels which may necessitate implementing additional infection control measures.

On December 19, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued IRS Notice 2026-6 which extends the transition period provided to state paid family and medical leave programs (PFML) and employers for an additional year. Due to this new guidance, Massachusetts will delay its implementation of certain portions of the tax withholding and reporting requirements outlined in IRS Revenue Ruling 2025-4.