E-News Updates

Mass Senior Care celebrates and honors the amazing mothers who live and work in our communities. Your strength, love, and dedication inspire us every day.

Mass Senior Care members are invited to please join us for the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing on June 8-9, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

The SNF QRP submission deadline is May 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Providers must submit Q4 2025 MDS data, COVID-19 vaccination coverage for healthcare personnel via NHSN, and annual influenza vaccination data for the 2025–2026 season.

Last week, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report, Most Nursing Homes Throughout the United States Do Not Have Adequate or Reliable Emergency Power Systems. The report found that most nursing facilities in the U.S. are not fully prepared for power outages, putting vulnerable residents at risk.

CMS has released a web-based training outlining updated information on the upcoming respecification of the Falls with Major Injury (FMI) Quality Measure for nursing facilities and other Post-Acute Care settings. 

Beginning July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, CMS will launch the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a temporary demonstration program providing eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries with access to certain GLP-1 medications for $50 per month. The initiative is intended to expand access to evidence-based weight-loss treatments, improve affordability, and support better long-term health outcomes.

As respiratory illness season winds down, it is important for nursing facilities to continue to be 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. 

National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) kicks off this Sunday, May 10, and runs through Saturday, May 16. Let this observance be more than just a week – make it a celebration! 

The Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation’s annual Scholarship Program assists long term care staff in meeting their personal and professional goals through furthering their education. Since 1985, the Foundation has awarded nearly $3 million dollars in scholarships to more than 1,600 deserving long term care staff. The Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 awards. Please encourage your employees to take advantage of this opportunity!