E-News Update Articles

Don't miss out on these important programs!

Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell have issued important guidance for employers on immigration and work authorization, outlining employer rights for hiring and retaining an immigrant workforce.

On Thursday, August 7, MSCA Member facility, Alliance Health at Rosewood, hosted a press conference by Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton to highlight the Medicaid impact of the new federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

At the August 13th Public Health Council meeting, DPH reported a decline in health care personnel flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates for the 2024-2025 season for most licensed facilities and EMS.

• Gov. Healey and Massachusetts AG Campbell Issue Guidance to Employers on Immigration and Work Authorization • HCP Vaccination Rates • CMS Posts FAQ about the SNF Validation Program • Register Now for Upcoming Education Programs!

On August 11, 2025, in a public hearing held by the Department of Public Health (DPH), Mass Senior Care (MSCA) testified in strong support of proposed regulations 105 CMR 775: Certified Medication Aides in Long Term Care Facilities.

On August 14, 2025, MassHealth held a Training Session in regard to the Family Assistance Pathway for Nursing Facilities. Please click here to access the Training PPT.

The 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Intent to Apply (ITA) and Portal are open. Participating in the Quality Award Program offers organizations valuable external perspectives, actionable feedback, stronger team collaboration, increased resilience, and improved performance – all leading to better care and quality of life for residents.

On August 14, 2025, the EOHHS-led Viability and Sustainability of Long-term Care Facilities Task Force, established as part of the commonwealth’s 2024 landmark LTC reform law, issued its final report in regard to recommendations about the viability and sustainability of long-term care facilities.

In the FY 2025 SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a policy for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) who participate in the SNF Quality Reporting Program a validation (i.e., audit) process beginning in the fall of 2025 for the FY 2027 SNF QRP. This process is a similar one adopted for the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program.

• Mass Senior Care Testifies in Support of Proposed DPH Regulations for Certified Medication Aides • REMINDER: MassHealth Training Webinar on New Family Assistance Pathway for Nursing Facilities • Additional Fire Safety and Life Safety Requirement for ALRs • August Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting

The Foundation is accepting applications for its 2025 awards up until this afternoon, Friday, August 8.

On July 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted the 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System. It includes updates to the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) program which begins on January 1, 2026. Mass Senior Care will be holding a webinar on Understanding the New Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) payment program on Tuesday, September 23 to help nursing facilities understand and prepare for the impacts of the TEAM program’s implementation.

• Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Federal DCC-Q Audit • MassHealth Training Webinar on New Family Assistance Pathway for Nursing Facilities • Congressman Seth Moulton Briefs Residents of Alliance Health at Rosewood

On August 5, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law a supplemental appropriations bill that includes $259 million to cover unfunded program costs for fiscal year 2025. The supplemental budget includes a provision with respect to last year’s FY 2025 rest home rates that requires EOHHS to ensure that FY2025 rates total $4 million more than rates in effect as of January 1, 2024.

On July 31, 2025, MassHealth issued a bulletin, Nursing Facility 194, updating the requirements for the MDS 3.0 Assessments for Nursing Facility Fee for Service Payments effective July 1, 2025. This bulletin describes how MDS assessments will be used to determine payment; the responsibilities of nursing facilities when completing and submitting assessments; and the MDS audit process.

On August 5, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue reported to the Legislature that preliminary revenue collections for July totaled $2.69 billion; $7 million or 0.3% more than actual collections in July 2024. July is the first month of the new fiscal year, and the Department of Revenue notes that these results may not necessarily be representative of the trend for the entire year.

The 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program application cycle is now open. Participating in the Quality Award Program offers organizations valuable external perspectives, actionable feedback, stronger team collaboration, increased resilience, and improved performance – all leading to better care and quality of life for residents.

• Senators Warren and Wyden Launch Probe Into UnitedHealth Group • Reminder: Certified Medication Aide Regulations Public Hearing Monday August 11th

• Massachusetts AG Campbell Reaches $6 Million Settlement • CMS Adopts Updates to TEAM Program Payment Model

Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal earlier this week joined nursing facility residents at Life Care Center of Wilbraham, a MSCA member facility, to mark the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid.

On July 30, 2025, CMS issued revisions to QSO 25-23-ALL Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The revisions include the suspension of focused infection control surveys as part of the standard survey process.

CLA is offering a complimentary webinar on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 from 1pm to 2pm Central Time on the ways in which the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s tax and Medicaid policy changes will impact the health care industry.

The Transitions from Acute Care to Post-Acute Care (TACPAC) Task Force was established under Section 25 of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024, the LTC Reform Law, to study and propose recommendations to address acute care hospital throughput challenges and the impact of persistent delays in discharging patients from acute to post-acute care settings. On July 31, The Task Force concluded its work with the submission of its report to the Legislature.

In accordance with Governor Healey’s statewide Fire and Life Safety Initiative, ALRs must comply no later than August 15, 2025, with completing the Fire Safety Assessment Survey and submission of their Emergency Preparedness Plan. The requirement for Resident and Family Notification of Safety Protocols should have been completed by July 26, 2025.

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On July 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted the final rule to update Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2026.

Due to the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) quarterly submission deadline on August 14, 2025, the iQIES Service Center is anticipating a significant increase in the volume of calls and emails.

Dr. Kap Sum Foong at Tufts Medical Center is leading a research study focusing on understanding perspectives related to penicillin allergies in the long-term care setting. Several opportunities are available for nursing facilities to share their thoughts as part of the study.

• MassHealth Issues Bulletin 194 • Final TACPAC Report Submitted to Legislature • Suspension of Focused Infection Control Surveys • REMINDER: ALR Fire and Life Safety Review Initiative

Don't Miss Out! The Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025 awards. Please note that the application and all required components must be submitted online at the same time and received by Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation no later than 4:00 pm on Friday, August 8, 2025.

• REMINDER: DCC-Q Final Filing is Due July 31, 2025 • Mass Senior Care Foundation Scholarship – Deadline is August 8, 2025 • Register for Upcoming TEAMS Webinar on September 23, 2025

CMS is issuing notifications to facilities that were determined to be out of compliance with the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) requirements for CY 2024, which will affect their FY 2026 Annual Payment Update (APU).

This week, Veterans from several Mass Senior Care member facilities were honored with the unforgettable experience of flight in a restored WWII-era open-cockpit biplane, courtesy of the nonprofit organization Dream Flights, with support from Mass Senior Care and Alliance Health & Human Services.

As a reminder, effective January 1, 2025, all long-term care facilities must comply with 105 CMR 721.000 – Standards for Prescription Format and Security in Massachusetts.

• Voluntary Recall of Bicillin® L-A • Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged at 4.8%

• Boston Globe Editorial on One Big Beautiful Bill Act • EOHHS Nursing Facility User Fee Regulation Hearing • REMINDER: ePrescribing Requirements • Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting • CMS Announces Medicare Revalidation Deadline Extension

Governor Healey Announces Immediate Measures to Enhance Safety in Assisted Living Residences

Governor Maura Healey has appointed Dr. Kiame Mahaniah as Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).

The Department of Public Health is holding a public hearing and comment period on proposed amendments to the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) regulation to increase the fee charged to licensed health care facilities for architectural plan review of facility construction documents for new construction and renovations to existing facilities from $8.25 to $10.50 per $1,000 of construction costs. The public hearing will be held on July 28, 2025 at 1pm.

The CMS security team has authorized an increase of the iQIES system timeout to 30 minutes. Previously, users would be automatically logged out of the system after 15 minutes of inactivity. This change is now in effect.

The 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program application cycle is now open! Participating in the Quality Award Program offers organizations valuable external perspectives, actionable feedback, stronger team collaboration, increased resilience, and improved performance – all leading to better care and quality of life for residents.

On July 14, 2025, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) issued Administrative Bulletin 25-16 updating the fees effective July 1, 2025 for fiscal year 2026. This change implements the new state budget requirement that EOHHS increase the nursing facility provider tax to the maximum amount under federal law, which totals 6% of total annual nursing facility revenue.

Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff. 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. One possible metric is the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Wastewater COVID-19 Tracking which measures the SARS-CoV2 levels.

Mass Senior Care would like to extend an invitation to Veterans to join Alliance Health and other member communities to participate in Dream Flights. This incredible program honors Veterans by giving them the chance to fly in a restored World War II-era biplane.

AHCA has informed MSCA that it has received notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that the agency is extending the deadline for the mandatory SNF provider enrollment off-cycle revalidation from August 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. CMS will be issuing formal public notice in the coming days on this extension.