Member Resources

Member Update: Prior Authorization for Post-Acute Care Facility Admission or Home Health Services: List of Accredited Carriers; Commonwealth Care Alliance Financial Situation Deteriorates: State Prepares Remedial Actions; Nursing Facility Partners Needed for Nurse Aide Certification Exams; Immigration Enforcement and Workplace Compliance May Include I-9 Audits by ICE; AHA and Health-ISAC Joint Statement on Social Media Post

Member Update: Massachusetts Division of Insurance Issues Filing Guidance to Insurers In Regard to Prior Authorization for Post-Acute Care Facility Admission or Home Health Services; CHIA Releases Annual Report on Massachusetts Health Care System Performance; Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) Commission – First Meeting

We look forward to seeing you at our May 14th Spring Conference and Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester where you will have opportunities to participate in educational sessions, network with peers, engage with exhibitors to learn about the latest products and services and earn CEUs. Attendee registration will be available soon, please mark your calendar and plan to join us on May 14th!

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through May 15, 2025 with promo code GROWRNS (all caps).

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has created a new Leave Allotment View for Leave Administrators.

The Care Planning Team of the Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All other Dementias has released a new toolkit for people living with dementia, dementia care partners, families, community-based service providers, and health care providers.

CMS last year announced its upcoming transition and training plan for State Survey Agencies (SSAs) to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). CMS recently updated its memo on March 7, 2025, noting the iQIES Nursing Home launch is now scheduled for July 2025.

As previously reported, on July 31, 2024, Governor Healey signed An Act Relative to Salary Range Transparency into law to increase equity and transparency in pay in the Commonwealth. The Attorney General’s Office has released initial guidance highlighting employer requirements and employee rights.

Our administrators provide an invaluable service to consumers and families across the Commonwealth. Mass Senior Care extends its heartfelt gratitude to all Administrators for their dedicated efforts in delivering quality, compassionate care to residents and their families every day!

We urge you, your residents, their family members, and staff to please call your elected officials and thank them for protecting access to quality nursing facility care, and respectfully urge them to support in the FY 2026 budget the $280 million necessary to implement the resident care and workforce sections contained in Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to offer Associate Members sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor booths for the upcoming 2025 Spring Conference & Trade Show on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA!

Member Update: DPH Clinical Advisory – Measles; Social Security Fairness Act Results in Increase in Social Security Benefits for Certain Nursing Facility Residents: MassHealth Treatment for Eligibility

Member Update: Implementation of Appendix PP Delayed until April 28

Member Update: Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Hosting Webinars on Wage Transparency Law; MassHealth Issues Eligibility Operations Updating Application for Seniors and People Needing LTC; Annual Life Safety Code (LSC) Surveys

We look forward to seeing you at our May 14th Spring Conference and Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester where you will have opportunities to participate in educational sessions, network with peers, engage with exhibitors to learn about the latest products and services and earn CEUs. Exhibitor and attendee registration will be available soon, please mark your calendar and plan to join us on May 14th!

The FDA has announced a recall of Lyons Magnus supplemental shakes manufactured in Fort Wayne, Indiana, due to potential Listeria contamination. Mass Senior Care previously alerted members regarding this concern last week.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on Thursday, March 13th at 10am for the monthly health care provider cybersecurity call.

As a follow up to the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) General Compliance Program Guidelines document (GCPG), OIG in late November 2024 published the updated Nursing Facility Industry Segment Specific Compliance Guidelines (Nursing Facility ICPG). MSCA members should review the Nursing Facility ICPG with special attention on risk areas that are relevant to their operations.

The Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE), formerly The Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) has rebranded and updated the following documents: ALR Application; ALR Consumer Guide & Consumer Guide signature page; Residency Agreement Informational Cover Sheet

The House last week passed on a party line vote a Republican budget resolution that recommends $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $2 trillion reduction in federal spending over the next decade. The House budget plan directs the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Committee that has jurisdiction over Medicaid and Medicare, to reduce spending by at least $880 billion over the next ten years.

Mass Senior Care is thrilled to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Board Member Sharon Donaghue, Division President of Marquis Health Consulting Services, on her well-deserved induction into the prestigious McKnight’s 2025 Long-Term Care News Hall of Honor. This remarkable honor comes as part of the annual McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards program, which celebrates trailblazing leaders in the long-term care industry.

Only 94 calls in support of nursing facility care have been made to the State House. We need your help in ensuring all of our voices are heard – please participate in this critical alert!

Member Update: FDA Recall of Supplemental Shakes

Member Update: CHIA Issues 2024 Nursing Facility Cost Report Submission

Member Update: State Legislative FY2026 Budget Hearings Set to Begin; House Passes Budget Blueprint: Medicaid Cuts on The Table; Continued Hospital Capacity Constraints; President Trump Issues Executive Order Reinstating Cost Transparency in Healthcare; Nursing Center Quality Measures Unfrozen, FHCA Analyzes Impact on Provider Star Ratings; REMINDER: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025

Member Update: Outbreak Investigation of Listeria: Frozen Supplemental Shakes; ALR Annual Financial Disclosure Form; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; REMINDER: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025

Member Update: Temporary Protected Status for Haiti Partially Vacated; MassHealth Issues All Provider Bulletin on the Medicaid MMIS and Provider Online Service Center Migration to Amazon Web Services; Register Now for Important Upcoming Webinars

Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff especially as cases of increased respiratory illnesses are on the rise. At the expiration of the PHE, DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness. Nursing facilities must continue to identify and monitor respiratory illness metrics to indicate when there are increased levels which may necessitate implementing these infection control measures.

The U.S. House and U.S. Senate last week took initial steps to achieving budget reconciliation that are expected to rely heaving on large spending cuts to health care programs, including Medicaid, to advance President Trump’s legislative agenda to fund tax cuts and increase defense spending and fund border security.

Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Andrea Joy Campbell has joined with Attorneys General from 15 other states to issue multi state guidance concerning diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) employment initiatives.

National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) is a great time to celebrate all who live and work in nursing facilities. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has deemed this year’s theme "Tapestry of Life.” The national observance will take place from Sunday, May 11 to Saturday, May 17, 2025.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Jim Divver, a valued member of the MSCA community. Jim’s career was marked by compassion and leadership, as a dedicated administrator of several decades, and an assistant commissioner at DPH. In addition, Jim most recently served as vice-chair of the MA Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators. He will be remembered for his legacy of kindness, service, and unwavering love for his family. For those who wish to pay their respects and learn more, Jim’s obituary can be viewed here.

We look forward to seeing you at our May 14th Spring Conference and Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester where you will have opportunities to participate in educational sessions, network with peers, engage with exhibitors to learn about the latest products and services and earn CEUs.

Please call your elected officials and thank them for their dedication to quality nursing facility care, and respectfully urge them to support $280 million in funding to fully implement the resident care and workforce requirements of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024. This landmark law will have a transformative impact on nursing facility care by enhancing transparency and accountability, while also addressing the sector’s ongoing workforce and access challenges.

Member Update: Massachusetts Attorney General Issues Multi State Guidance Concerning DEIA Employment Initiatives; Medicaid Cuts on the Table to Advance Federal Budget Resolution; MassHealth to Hold Two LTSS Provider Informational Webinars on MMIS POSC AWS Migration; Massachusetts Large Building Energy Reporting; REMINDER: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025; RY25 DCC-Q Interim Filing Update: Online Portal is Live for Data Entry - Filing Deadline is March 1st

Member Update: MassHealth Issues Medicaid Pend Tracker; MassHealth Issues Important Update on MMIS/POSX Migration to Amazon Web Services, scheduled for March 14, 2025; Register Now for an Informative Webinar: Implementing Massachusetts’ New Wage Transparency Law: What Employers Need to Know

Member Update: BORN Advisory Ruling Number: 24-02 Invokement of Health Care Proxy by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; Clinical Guidance Update: Influenza Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities

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As the Massachusetts Career Ladder Program (CLP) enters into its second year, several changes have been made that makes this first in the nation program to upskill direct care workers to licensed practical nurses (LPNs) more accessible than ever.

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics will be hosting webinars for pronouncers for pre-enrolling into MAVRIC.

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 111, section 71C and 105 CMR 150.028 Dementia Special Care Units requires all nursing facilities that advertise or hold themselves out to the public as a provider of specialized care to persons with dementia must file a disclosure statement with the Department of Public Health by March 1st each year.

EOHHS through UMASS NFReporting has issued three documents for facilities to complete the Rate Year 2025 Interim filing. The deadline for filing the form is March 1st.

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.

We look forward to seeing you at our May 14th Spring Conference and Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester where you will have opportunities to participate in educational sessions, network with peers, engage with exhibitors to learn about the latest products and services and earn CEUs. Exhibitor and attendee registration will be available soon, please mark your calendar and plan to join us on May 14th!

Member Update: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025; RY25 DCC-Q Interim Filing Update: Online Portal is Live - Filing Deadline is March 1st

Member Update: DPH Issues Memorandum for Norovirus Outbreak Prevention and Control Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities