E-News Update Articles

Member Update: MassHealth LTSS Best Practices - Verifying Eligibility and Claim Status; MassHealth Informational Webinars on MMIS Migration to Cloud System

Member Update: Legislature Enacts Consensus Economic Development Bill and Sends To Governor Healey: Includes $50 Million Authorization for Nursing Facility Capital Loan Program; IMPORTANT MASSHEALTH NOTICE FOR NURSING FACILITY BILLING - MassHealth Final Submission Deadline Claims Process for Issues Relating to the October 2023 Transition from MMQ to MDS; US Department of Labor’s Overtime Rule Struck Down by Federal Judge; MAVRIC Webinar for Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Pronouncers; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; Mass Senior Care Clinical & Regulatory Committee Meeting; CMS Leadership National Call

Member Update: MassHealth MMIS Amazon Web Services (AWS) Migration: November Billing Deadline

Join DPH and Mass Senior Care for a webinar on Successfully Navigating the Informal Dispute Resolution Process (IDR), and the Independent Informal Dispute Process (IIDR) Tuesday, November 19, 2024 1:00 pm –3:00 pm

The CDC has endorsed two new recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the COVID and pneumonia vaccines.

Join us as we gather for our 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14th at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA!

The 2025 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Intent to Apply (ITA) period is open, but the deadline to apply is next week! AHCA encourages applicants who plan to apply for a 2025 Quality Award to submit an ITA by logging into the Quality Award Portal before the deadline on November 14, 2024. Applicants will receive an automatic discount on the overall application fee when submitting a 2025 application.

Staffing data for July 1 – September 30, 2024, is due by 11:59 p.m. EST on November 14. Nursing facilities are encouraged to submit their data early and review the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of submissions.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Nurse Aide Registry Services (NARS) announced its testing vendor, D & S Headmaster (“D&S”), will begin offering the nurse aide certification exam in Haitian Creole, in addition to Spanish, Chinese, and English.

The SNF Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the January 2025 refresh.

Member Update: Nurse Aide Certification Testing Available in Haitian Creole Starting December 2nd; CMS Extends Due Date for All Medicare Revalidations to May 1, 2025; CDC Updates Guidance for COVID-19 and Pneumonia Vaccines

Member Update: COVID-19 Vaccination Rates; Mass Senior Care Testifies at EOHHS Rate Year 2025 Nursing Home Rate Regulation Public Hearing; Lawmakers Ask CMS to Monitor Medicare Advantage Plan – Focus on Inappropriate Prior Approval Methods; CMS Issues Final Rule Impacting Nursing Home NHSN Reporting Starting January 1, 2025

On October 30th, Wingate at Silver Lake hosted early voting for residents, marking a significant moment in the lead-up to the 2024 Election.

Building on its 39-year legacy of assisting long term care staff in furthering their education, the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation is proud to announce its 2024 Foundation Scholars.

On Monday of this week, Massachusetts Senior Care Association (MSCA) was pleased to participate in the Western Massachusetts Healthcare Summit hosted by UMass Amherst. The session began with a keynote by Kate Walsh, Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. 

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to share the Vote 2024 campaign to ensure the long term care community has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections.

What’s Ahead for SNF QRP: Insights, Innovations, and Impacts; Successfully Navigating the Informal Dispute Resolution Process (IDR), and the Independent Informal Dispute Process (IIDR)

On October 23, 2024, CMS released Fiscal 2025 State Performance Standards System Guidance for State Survey Agency. The State Performance Standards System is used to measure how successful surveyors are in inspecting Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes.

On October 18, the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living held elections for the 2024/2025 term.

Mass Senior Care is once again offering AHCA/NCAL Quality Award workshops to help members better understand how to complete the application from beginning to end with coaching support along the way from expert trainers.

On October 1, 2024, The Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) released important information regarding the contribution amounts that need to be remitted by eligible employees and employers beginning on January 1, 2025.

Re: Member Update: MassHealth Issues Provider Bulletin Listing Changes to MassHealth’s Accountable Care Organizations Effective January 1, 2025; COVID-19 Vaccination Reminder; Division of Insurance Stakeholder Listening Session – Prior Authorization for Post-Acute Services

Member Update: REMINDER: COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination Requirement for Health Care Personnel (HCP); CHIA Extends Deadline for Nursing Facility Data Validation Template Review

RTI International, on behalf of CMS, is seeking feedback on the possible expansion of collection and submission of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment data used for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) to include all residents receiving short-term skilled care in a SNF regardless of payer.

Thousands of Massachusetts residents may soon lose access to their doctors due to a reimbursement dispute between their insurer Point32Health and Children’s Hospital, UMASS Hospital and Tenet Hospital.

Join clinicians, educators, policymakers, and healthcare organizations from across the state to share and problem-solve the needs of our healthcare system. There is no cost to attend.

The Boston Office of CMS will host a series of webinars focusing on the Medicare provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its impact on healthcare.

Register now for our 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14th at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA!

Countdown to Compliance: Implementation Strategies for Meeting the Patient Billing Transparency Law; Best Practices for Filing Medicaid Applications: Steps You Need to Know About MassHealth Nursing Facility Eligibility; What’s Ahead for SNF QRP: Insights, Innovations, and Impacts; Successfully Navigating the Informal Dispute Resolution Process (IDR), and the Independent Informal Dispute Process (IIDR)

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 we enter respiratory virus season. At the expiration of the PHE, DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association.

Member Update: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; Don't Miss Out on Upcoming MSCA Webinars

Member Update: House Passes Closeout Bill to Cover Prior Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Gap; Register Now for Upcoming MSCA Webinars

Member Update: Employer Incentives and Supports for Hiring Work-Authorized New Immigrants; Secure Your Spot Today for Two New Webinars with MassHealth and Mass Senior Care

On October 11, CMS finalized the Medicare Program: Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status rule.

The SNF Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the January 2025 refresh.

Member Update: Current Technical Issues in NHSN; SNF Provider Preview Reports – Now Available

Member Update: Attorney General’s Office Seeking Community Feedback on ALR Consumer Protection Regulations; New CMS Resources on Mandatory Provider Enrollment Off-Cycle Revalidation; Free COVID-19 Test Kits

Member Update: OIG Releases Report on Massachusetts Nursing Homes; Upcoming AHCA/NCAL Webinars on Mandatory Provider Enrollment Revalidation; CMS to Host Next SNF/LTC Open Door Forum – Thursday, October 17, 2024; REMINDER: CHIA Issues Data Validation Template for Nursing Facility Review; IV Fluid Shortages and Supply Chain Disruptions; Honoring Choices Resource – Who is Your Health Care Agent?

Steward Health Care is abandoning the under construction Norwood Hospital and closing four affiliated clinics in November, according to a notice filed in bankruptcy court Monday.

Join us as we gather for our 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14th at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA! Please visit our website to register.

AHCA encourages applicants who plan to apply for a 2025 Quality Award to submit an ITA by logging into the Quality Award Portal before the deadline on November 14, 2024. Applicants will receive an automatic discount on the overall application fee when submitting a 2025 application.

Limited sponsorship opportunities are remaining for Mass Senior Care Association’s November 14th Annual Meeting and Trade Show.

Register Now! Best Practices for Successfully Billing for Medicaid Nursing Facility Member Specific Billing Add-Ons: What All Facilities Should Know and Best Practices for Filing Medicaid Applications: Steps You Need to Know About MassHealth Nursing Facility Eligibility

Governor Maura Healey has appointed Michael Caljouw as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI), the state agency that monitors the solvency of its licensed insurance carriers to ensure a healthy marketplace for consumers who purchase insurance products.

Member Update: CHIA Issues Proposed Regulation Nursing Facility Cost Reporting Regulation: 957 CMR 7.00; Register Now for Upcoming MSCA Webinars and In-Person Life Safety Code Workshop

Member Update: Newly Arrived Immigrants Provide Important Source of Labor for Long Standing Vacancies; Exclusive Complimentary Webinar for Mass Senior Care Facility and Corporate Members Only; Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Member Update: CHIA Issues Data Validation Template for Nursing Facility Review

To assist nursing facility members in complying with the CMS regulation mandating that each nursing facility have a designated and specially trained Infection Preventionist, AHCA is offering new registrants discounts on its IPCO training program.

DPH has issued new guidance to provide recommendations and resources to support the integration of harm reduction services in healthcare settings to people who use drugs (PWUD).