E-News Updates

The Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation’s annual fundraising event, Inspiring Excellence Through Service and Leadership, will be a breakfast celebration honoring Tom Lavallee, Board Chair of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Chief Operating Officer of Alliance Health Management Services. Tom has dedicated his career to advancing quality care, building strong organizations, and supporting the people who serve older adults and individuals with disabilities. We invite members to join us on Tuesday, November 17th from 8:00am – 9:00am to recognize Tom’s many contributions and lasting impact on long term care!

Residents of Hannah B.G. Shaw Home recently enjoyed a memorable night at the theatre, thanks to a special invitation from Middleboro’s Burt Wood School of Performing Arts to attend a performance of Disney’s The Lion King Jr.

As a result of Mass Senior Care’s continued advocacy to ensure that state funding adequately supports the actual cost of quality resident care, we are pleased to report that the House yesterday approved its FY 2026 closeout budget bill that would provide an additional $52 million in in quality nursing facility funding for Rate Year 2027 (RY27) Medicaid rates.

Under MassHealth Nursing Facility Bulletin 204, all nursing facilities seeking SUD and/or MOUD add-on payments must submit the required attestation form and a copy of their executed Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) agreement by November 1, 2026 (see Appendix A, pages 8–9). 

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced a $1 million recovery from former medical transportation provider Transformative Healthcare, LLC, and its former subsidiaries, resolving allegations of improper MassHealth billing and failures to protect sensitive patient and employee information.

On October 18, 2026, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association (MSCA) submitted comments to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) in response to its request for public comment on the proposed extension of the MassHealth Section 1115 Demonstration for January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2032.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a clinical advisory regarding the presence of medetomidine, in the unregulated opioid supply.

Massachusetts-licensed Nursing Facility Administrators are reminded to review their continuing education records following a recent reminder notice from the Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators and a notice of a potential CEU audit.

Make the most of your continuing education with Mass Senior Care. Explore upcoming education programs and events designed to help long term care professionals stay informed, strengthen their skills, and support quality care for older adults.