E-News Updates

On March 31, 2026, CMS released its Request for Applications (RFA) for the new Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model, a voluntary 10-year Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiative scheduled to begin January 1, 2027 and replace ACO REACH after 2026. ACOs can apply to participate in the model by responding to a Request for Applications by May 17, 2026.

Last week, MassHealth released an update containing information on the current demonstration progress as well as additional details about its plan to extend the 1115 Demonstration waiver, which currently ends in 2027.

As reported in March, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revised Chapter 5 & Chapter 7 State Operations Manual to provide additional guidance related to protocols for investigating complaints and facility-reported incidents and the survey process, deficiency grading (scope and severity), and enforcement remedies like civil money penalties. On April 3, 2026, CMS provided further guidance clarifying the minimum amount of time the survey team should be onsite on the first day of a survey, and the minimum amount of consecutive days that the survey team should be onsite for standard and abbreviated surveys.

As a reminder, nursing facilities are required to report on annual influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel (HCP) by Monday, May 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST to meet the CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program for the 2025-2026 influenza season.

The ePOLST Registry will go live on April 6, 2027. As of that date, MOLST forms will no longer be issued, and all POLST orders must be completed within the ePOLST Registry.

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Immunization Champion Award. This award recognizes outstanding local champions – nominated by their peers – who go above and beyond to promote and advance immunizations for children and adults across Massachusetts.

AHCA/NCAL’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases nurses’ gerontological nursing knowledge and competency test scores. Nurses who complete Gero Nurse Prep show an average 24 percent increase between their pre- and post-course test scores even after working in long term care for a number of years. 

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