Member Resources

Candida auris (C. auris) was recently named one of five urgent threats in the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019 despite only being identified in 2016. There are active cases of C. auris in long term care facilities in Massachusetts and across the country.

Two Mass Senior Care member facilities are being recognized with a 2022 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).

Mass Senior Care filed comments this week on CMS’ FFY 2023 SNF Medicare Payment rule, requesting that the agency phase in the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) parity adjustment over three years in light of the staffing and financial challenges the nursing facility sector is experiencing as it battles to protect its residents and staff during the COVID pandemic.

DPH strongly encourages long-term care facilities provide and administer the second COVID-19 booster vaccine to all eligible long-term care residents and staff as soon as possible, Candida auris (C. auris) was recently named one of five urgent threats in the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States. There are active cases of C. auris in long term care facilities in Massachusetts and across the country, and MassHealth has issued an FAQ document from the Customer Web Portal (CWP) & Provider Requests for Transportation (PT-1) Office Hours from May 5.

The Massachusetts Resident Care Assistant (RCA) 8-hour training course is now available free for MSCA members. This online training program provides initial instruction to new RCA recruits. After successfully completing the online training, RCAs receive additional onsite resident care training at the facility and undergo skills/competency assessment by the facility prior to beginning work.

Mass Senior Care would like to remind members that CMP funds up to $3000 per facility are available for in-person visitation aids which now includes portable fans and portable air cleaners meeting the criteria stated on the application template, and Mass Senior Care has received inquiries from members regarding the process for reducing a facility’s licensed bed (quota) as a result of dedensification.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on June 9 at 10:00 am for their monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. The call will be joined by representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Massachusetts State Police and Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends.

Save $200 off the AHCA/NCAL’s Gero Nurse Prep course through May 31, 2022, with promo code QUALITYRN22 (all caps). Specifically designed for registered nurses working in long term care, this curriculum provides comprehensive online training that leads to board certification in gerontological nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for RNs.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association. Our members have demonstrated their commitment to the senior care provider community by joining Mass Senior Care and we are grateful for their support.

There are so many learning opportunities at this year’s AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo. Over the course of four days, you can choose from more than 100 sessions in 20+ tracks, covering all critical aspects of long term and post-acute care. You’ll also have the chance to earn up to 14.75 CE​s. Whether you are a c-suite executive, administrator, DON (nursing supervisor), corporate staff, or an assisted living professional, there’s something for you at the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo!

Per state law, Chapter 19A, Section 43, all providers who contract with or receive funding from EOEA, ASAPs, MassHealth OLTSS and those whose services are certified by EOEA must ensure that all current employees complete training on caring for and supporting LGBTQ seniors and their families.

The staff and residents of the German Centre in West Roxbury celebrated National Skilled Nursing Care Week with a special visit from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Emily Shea, the City of Boston’s Commissioner of the Age Strong Commission.

In a memo by MSCA General Counsel Mark Reagan of Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, Attorney Reagan noted that nursing facilities across the country are receiving requests from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG), concerning a review of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) spending and infection control practices, and join us for next week’s Putting Patients First Webinar.

Mass Senior Care is reminding members that the full June LTC Medicaid payment will be made on the normal payment schedule, Massachusetts State Court Issued a narrow temporary restraining order in regard to involuntary transfer of residents resulting from DPH’s implementation of de-densification requirement, the Berkshire Eagle published an op-ed today by Tara Gregorio, President of Massachusetts Senior Care Association calling for the Legislature and Governor Baker to approve and fund $238 million for a vital workforce investment proposal.

Today, the DPH released revised guidance on Antigen Rapid Point of Care COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities, skilled nursing facilities that participate in the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (QRP) must have the weekly health care personnel COVID-19 vaccination summary data entered into the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) by May 16, 2022​ for the 2021 Quarter 4 (October 1 – December 31, 2021), and as noted in the CMS FAQs for In-Person Visitation Aids, Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds are available to certified nursing facilities to add portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency (HEPA H-13 or H-14) filters to increase and improve air quality in nursing homes.

MassHealth requires that nursing facilities and chronic disease and rehabilitation inpatient hospitals account for the balances of personal needs allowance (PNA) account funds.

CMS will be holding a webinar on May 25th at 2:00pm on the “Culture Change in Long Term Care.

Hamel-Lydon Chapel & Cremation Service of Massachusetts, an Associate Member of Mass Senior Care Association, appreciates the special care and dedication that frontline healthcare workers provide to patients on a regular basis. We understand that the same compassion is required when we serve families and their loved ones under our professional care.

Nominations for the 2022 ACHA/NCAL awards programs are now open! AHCA/NCAL members are strongly encouraged to nominate those in their community who go above and beyond to provide exceptional service in the long term care profession.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) updated its comprehensive quality strategy that reflects MassHealth’s quality goals and objectives, quality management framework and agency-wide quality activities. The quality strategy incorporates CMS guidance utilizing the updated Quality Strategy Toolkit, and also maintains adherence to the regulatory managed care rule requirements.

Amidst the flurry of activities happening in skilled nursing facilities this week, it was heartwarming to see the smiles on residents’ faces as they enjoyed a variety of events celebrating National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW).

The Senate Ways and Means (SWM) Committee this week released its FY 2023 budget recommendation totaling $49.7 billion, including $75 million for nursing facility direct care staff and patient quality supports to continue investments. The $75 million in Medicaid funding would be distributed as a rate add on for direct care staffing costs ($56.25 million) and for a supplemental payment to promote quality improvement ($18.75 million).

Yesterday, the DPH released a letter to providers urging them to ensure Paxlovid and other COVID-19 treatments are offered to all patients eligible to receive them, and join us for Putting Patients First Webinar.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to report that DPH has adopted MSCA’s recommendations to count RCA time worked towards CNA training requirements. DPH’s guidance on Nurse Aide Testing Requirements and On-Site Observation and Work Credit for Nurse Aide Training allows nursing homes to grant training credit to nurse aides working in their facility between the start of the State of Emergency in Massachusetts (March 10, 2020) through June 6, 2022.

Mass Senior Care is urging nursing facilities to administer the 2nd booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to residents as soon as they are eligible, the DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, May 10, 2022, at 11:00 a.m, and register for - Putting Patients First Webinar.

The transcript and video of the April 26, 2022, CMS National Stakeholder call can be accessed at this link. The call featured CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and her leadership team providing updates on the CMS Strategic Vision and key accomplishments during the first quarter of 2022

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on May 12 at 10 am for their monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. The call will be joined by representatives of CISA New England and the Massachusetts State Police and Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. The monthly topic for this call will be MITRE's Medical Device Cybersecurity Incident Response Playbook. These calls will continue to occur on the second Thursday of every

The American Health Care Association/ National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is pleased to announce the launch of the Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP). Ten individuals will be selected to participate in the two-year program. Applications will be accepted through June 9, 2022. We hope, if eligible, you will consider applying or share this information with someone who would be a good candidate.

Stone Rehabilitation & Senior Living is an 82 bed, non-profit, short-term and long-term rehabilitation center with an additional 18 bed affordable senior living facility located in Newton Highlands. We are seeking individuals with financial and/or long-term care experience to become volunteer board members.

The similarities between Hollywood and Healthcare are uncanny – both are highly sensitive to demographic trends and consumer preferences. Cinema and Skilled Nursing were also hardest hit by the pandemic and share similar challenges on the road to recovery. The target audiences may be different but share the desire to “stay home and chill” – Home & Community Based Theatre is here to stay.

In response to a recent Mass Senior Care Education Program survey, we are pleased to announce several new seminars designed to help providers refresh their skills and improve their clinical knowledge. We plan to offer virtual QAPI and Director of Nurses Leadership Training so please check our website frequently for updated program offerings.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Mass Senior Care members were finally able to reconnect in-person at the Association’s Spring Conference & Trade Show held at the DCU Center in Worcester this past week. While still observing COVID-19 safety protocols, attendees, exhibitors and sponsors were delighted to gather and share their experiences, take a few minutes to laugh and relax during the morning session, learn about new strategies for recruitment and retention in the afternoon and view products

From May 8-14, 2022, National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), formerly known as National Nursing Home Week, provides an opportunity to recognize the role of skilled nursing facilities in caring for our seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The Massachusetts Senate is in the process of developing its FY 2023 state budget and your continued and sustained advocacy is needed to respect and protect nursing home caregiver wages. Massachusetts Senior Care Association’s FY2023 Vital Workforce Investment Proposal would provide $238 million to ensure quality resident care and address our workforce crisis.

Members should anticipate receiving the May 2022 MassHealth COVID-19 supplemental payment on May 10th, yesterday, MassHealth issued the February 2022 Staff Surveillance Testing Payment, and register now for the Putting Patients First Webinar.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on May 12 at 10 am for their monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. The call will be joined by representatives of CISA New England and the Massachusetts State Police and Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends.

As noted in the CMS FAQs for In-Person Visitation Aids, Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds are available to certified nursing facilities to add portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency (HEPA H-13 or H-14) filters to increase and improve air quality in nursing homes. The DPH can approve applications that meet the defined CMS parameters without review by CMS.

The DPH, in partnership with Abt Associates and Healthcentric Advisors, has released a self-paced online course titled: The Care of Residents with Opioid & Stimulant Use Disorders in Long-Term Care Settings. Information about the learning sessions can be found here. Nursing facilities that are receiving the SUD Rate Add-on for Rate Year 2021 (current rate year), are required to complete these modules by June 30, 2022.

Last Friday, The Boston Globe published an article on the CNA testing backlog impacting students who have finished their nurse aide training but awaiting the state certification test. Prometric, the state’s CNA testing provider, came on board in November 2021 after the American Red Cross notified the Department of Public Health they were exiting the testing program.

The House of Representatives this week adopted its FY 2023 budget recommendation which includes an additional $40 million in funding for nursing homes to continue to fund nursing facility workforce wage investments. Mass Senior Care will continue to advocate for vital workforce funds over multiple appropriation bills including the FY 2023 state budget, the FY 2022 surplus budget, and the ARPA appropriation bill.

Members are reminded that Resident Care Assistant hours are included in the Commonwealth’s 3.58 HPPD requirement, Mass Senior Care has asked the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development for clarification on documentation required for the HireNow employer registration portal, and Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds are available to certified nursing facilities to add portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency (HEPA H-13 or H-14) filters to increase and improve air quality in nursing homes.

The DPH has released updated clinical guidance for COVID-19 therapeutics, CMS and the CDC will host a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:00 PM, and DPH and Mass Senior Care are strongly urging long-term care facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents by April 30 or as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

Discussion on Monthly ICAR Assessments, the next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled for Thursday, April, 28 2022 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, and MassHealth Business Support Services and LTSS Customer Service will be offering a Webex on May 5th at 1-2:30pm to review the recent changes to the transportation requests for MassHealth members (both fee for service and managed care members) residing in nursing facilities.

Join the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and her leadership team, on April 26, 2022, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm to hear updates on the CMS Strategic Vision and key accomplishments during the first quarter of 2022.