E-News Update Articles

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) earlier this week issued the Rate Year 2025 (RY25) Medicaid Nursing Facility rate regulation.

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

CMS has announced that an updated Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice (SNF ABN) and accompanying instructions have been posted in the downloads section of the fee for service (FFS) SNF ABN webpage. The revised SNF ABN form is available for immediate use, and it becomes mandatory for Medicare Part A services on October 31, 2024.

CMS has issued Medicare billing guidance regarding the FDA-approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024–2025 season and updated COVID-19 vaccine pricing.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to offer Associate Members sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor booths for the upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA.

Register Now for Upcoming MSCA Seminars/Webinars

Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and ID/DD centers are required by OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) to establish and maintain a respiratory protection program when employees are exposed to airborne hazards, including infectious agents such as COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Honoring Choices has developed a new consumer handout to help consumers in the community complete a health care proxy.

Mass Senior Care congratulates The Terraces Orleans, owned and operated by EF Senior Care, on its 55th Anniversary Celebration.

Member Update: Supply Chain Concerns; Baxter International Inc. Manufacturing Facility Damage and International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) Strike

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.

Member Update: EOHHS Issues Rate Year 2025 Medicaid Nursing Facility Rates

Member Update: Honoring Choices Resource - Who is Your Health Care Agent?; DPH Issues Guidance on Harm Reduction and the Protection of Caregivers; Register Now for Upcoming Webinars and In-Person Life Safety Code Workshop

Member Update: SNF ABN Notice Form Change; Register Now for Upcoming Webinars and In-Person Life Safety Code Workshop

Register now for Reporting: LTCF Respiratory Pathogens Module: Updates to Resident Data Collection Form and Up to Date Definition for Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting for Healthcare Personnel and Residents; and NHSN Person-Level Vaccination Forms: Quarter 4 2024 Updates for Long-Term Care Facilities

AHCA/NCAL has released a new resource to assist providers in developing their Facility Assessment in compliance with the requirements at 42 CFR 483.71. The latest addition is the Recruitment and Retention template, available to AHCA/NCAL members through the Strengthening Facility Assessments to Adapt to Regulatory Changes webinar on ahcancalED.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to offer Associate Members sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor booths for the upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA.

Member Update: New AHCA LTC Facility Assessment Recruitment and Retention Tool Now Available; Up-to-Date Definition Changes for NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting; New Combined Respiratory Pathogen Reporting Form for Residents; NHSN Webinars

Where Safety Meets Standards: Join DPH and MSCA for the Annual Life Safety Code In-Person Workshop! Tuesday, October 22, 2024 9:00 am – 12:00 pm enVision Hotel & Conference Center Mansfield-Foxboro 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048

CMS has released an updated series of web-based training courses that provide an overview of the assessment and Section GG guidance found in the Long Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User’s Manual, Version 1.19.1. These courses are designed to promote accurate coding of the post-acute care (PAC) cross-setting data elements.

Effective September 30, 2024, an individual will be considered "up to date" if they have received a single dose of the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Honoring Choices has developed a new consumer handout to help consumers in the community complete a health care proxy. The Who is Your Health Care Agent? consumer handout offers 3 simple steps to choose a Health Care Agent, complete a Health Care Proxy, and share your Proxy with your medical providers and others.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued an announcement in the MLN Connects newsletter that all skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers will receive off-cycle provider enrollment revalidation notices from their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to collect additional data on ownership, managerial, and related party information not previously required.

Putting Patients First Law Effective January 1, 2025: Are You Ready? Attend this Webinar and Receive the MSCA Putting Patients First Law Toolkit Wednesday, October 24, 2024 1:00pm – 2:00pm Via Zoom

CMS has issued Medicare billing guidance regarding the FDA-approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024–2025 season.

Effective September 30, 2024, facilities will need to report respiratory pathogen vaccination, case, and hospitalization data using a newly combined reporting form.

A recent webinar hosted by AHCA/NCAL with Incite Strategic Partners, Beyond Savings – What You Should be Getting from Your GPO, features information on up-front savings, industry expertise, workforce recruiting and retention resources, and ongoing recommendations which can be tailored to your specific needs.

Employing Work Authorized New Immigrants: Incentives & Supports Exclusive Complimentary Webinar for Mass Senior Care Facility and Corporate Members Only October 16, 2024 10:00 am – 11:00am Zoom Webinar Presented in Partnership with the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development

2024 AHCA/NCAL Convention in Orlando & 2024 AHCA/NCAL Bronze Quality Award Workshop

EOEA will host a webinar on October 8 at 3:30 pm to update stakeholders on the status of the Massachusetts transition from MOLST to POLST.

Member Update: Mandatory Provider Enrollment Off-Cycle Revalidation for ALL SNFs; IntelyCare Cuts Jobs For Third time in 14 Months; Where Safety Meets Standards: Join DPH and MSCA for the Annual Life Safety Code In-Person Workshop!

Member Update: EOHHS Issues Notice of Proposed Agency Action on Rate Year 2025 Medicaid Nursing Facility Rates; Honoring Choices Resource - Who is Your Health Care Agent?; MOLST to POLST Transition Update

Member Update: Massachusetts Tax Amnesty Program From November 1 to December 30, 2024; Upcoming NHSN Webinars

Member Update: CLARIFICATION - Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure; Register Now for MSCA Webinar: Mastering Sepsis – Key Diagnosis and Management Tips

On July 19, 2024, the final OSHA rule updating the Hazard Communication Standard (Haz-Com Standard) became effective.

The Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) Quality Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual Version 6.0 and accompanying documents are now available.

The Massachusetts electronic death registration system (MAVRIC) has been postponed until November 18th.

Member Update: 2024-2025 Respiratory Virus Season Updates for LTC Providers Today!; MassHealth Acute Hospital Rates for Rate Year 2025 and Steward Hospital Financing Update; Health Care Capacity Dashboard

AHCA/NCAL Webinar featuring Incite Strategic Partners: "Beyond Savings – What You Should be Getting from Your GPO" Tuesday, September 24 at 1:00pm EDT Register here. 2024 AHCA/NCAL Convention in Orlando October 6-9 in Orlando, FL Register here. MSCA Life Safety Code In-Person Workshop Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 9:00am – 12:00pm at the enVision Hotel Mansfield-Foxboro Register here. 2024 AHCA/NCAL Bronze Quality Award Workshop Part 1: November 6 | 2:00 – 4:00pm ET; Part 2: November 13 | 2:00 –

AHCA/NCAL announced its 2024-2025 #GetVaccinated toolkit for providers, in preparation for the respiratory virus season this fall and winter. Additionally, AHCA/NCAL is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) new national campaign—Risk Less. Do More. (RiskLessDoMore.hhs.gov)—to raise awareness of the latest vaccines for influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

On September 10th, DPH released updated Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure. The guidance aligns with the current CDC recommendations and provides further clarification on isolation and uses a symptom-based approach to isolation and return to work rather than a 5-day period after a positive COVID-19 test for symptomatic health care personnel (HCP).

Member Update: Long-Term Care Providers Must Comply with ePrescribing Requirements effective January 1, 2025

On September 10th, DPH released updated guidance on Respiratory Illness Vaccination for Admitted Patients.

Happy National Assisted Living Week! This annual observance provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding comm​​unities to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Register Now: Mastering Sepsis – Key Diagnosis and Management Tips​ Tuesday, September 24, 2024​ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm ​ Zoom Webinar

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.

Last week, Governor Maura Healey signed into law H5033, An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care - The Long Term Care Reform law. To help ensure access to quality nursing facility care for individuals who can no longer live safely at home, this comprehensive, historic legislation will have a profound impact on the provision of care.

Member Update: Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure; Respiratory Illness Vaccination of Admitted Patients

Member Update: Register Now for MSCA Webinar: Mastering Sepsis – Key Diagnosis and Management Tips; Massachusetts Electronic Death Registration System (MAVRIC) Launch Postponed

Member Update: CHIA Nursing Facility Industry Transparency Modernization: Upcoming Preview of Nursing Facility Data; 2023-2024 Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Data; EOHHS Announces Selection of One Care Plans and SCO Plans for 2026