E-News Update Articles

CMS and DPH require nursing facilities to report Health Care Personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination data via the CDC’s NHSN and make the data available to DPH in NHSN. Nursing facilities are required to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza data to the CDC’s NHSN by May 15, 2025.

On May 1, the new Director of the Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, Teryl Smith, released an initial memo implementing Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024 An Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care.

Mark your calendars! National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) kicks off this Sunday, May 11, and runs through Saturday, May 17, 2025. This special week is a great time to celebrate all who live and work in nursing facilities!

• CPR Certification Requirements • Report HCP Flu Vaccination • Nominate an Immunization Champion

• Senate Ways and Means Committee Issues FY26 Budget Recommendation • REMINDER: CY 2024 Nursing Facility Cost Reports Due June 1st

• Nominate a Massachusetts Immunization Champion! • MassHealth Issues Eligibility Operations Memo • President Trump Proposes Federal Fiscal 2026 Budget • REMINDER: Expanded Suitability Review and Management Companies • REMINDER: SNF QRP Submission Deadline

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CMS and DPH require nursing homes to report Health Care Personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination data via the CDC’s NHSN and make the data available to DPH in NHSN. Nursing homes are required to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza data to the CDC’s NHSN by May 15, 2025.

Mark your calendars! National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) is right around the corner, running from Sunday, May 11 through Saturday, May 17, 2025. This special week is a great time to celebrate all who live and work in nursing facilities. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has deemed this year’s theme "Tapestry of Life”, which highlights the meaningful stories that make up each person’s journey in skilled nursing care.

On April 17, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the allocation of $9.7 million through the Community College Nursing Grant to expand workforce training in key health care roles across Massachusetts. The funding will support noncredit Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant programs at all 15 of the Commonwealth’s public community colleges, with the goal of training approximately 1,125 students.

• Expanded Suitability Review and Management Companies • Healey Administration Awards Funding for CNA Training at Community Colleges

As a reminder, the CMS revisions to Appendix PP of the CMS State Operations Manual went into effect on April 28, 2025. Surveyors will be using the revised guidance during annual surveys.

Mass Senior Care members are invited to join us for the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing on June 9-10, 2025 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. Congressional Briefing will offer opportunities to gain insight on the latest legislative and policy developments, network with colleagues, and hear from prominent speakers.

The House yesterday evening engrossed its FY 2026 budget recommendation totaling $61.5 billion. We are pleased to report that the House’s recommendation provides $132 million in new Medicaid nursing facility funding.

On April 16, 2025, CMS released a new resource Essential Survey Information for CMS-Certified Providers on the survey process and common requests providers may receive during surveys. CMS states the toolkit is intended to help providers navigate the survey process effectively.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created regulations under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions.

Join us Wednesday, May 14th at the DCU Center in Worcester for an action-packed day at the 2025 Spring Conference & Trade Show. In addition to learning from dynamic speakers addressing issues impacting long term care providers, over 50 leading sponsors and exhibitors will be on site at our Trade Show & Luncheon, showcasing the latest products and services you need to know about. Network. Discover. Learn. Whether you're looking to make valuable connections, stay ahead of industry trends, or just soak up some fresh ideas—you need to be in the room. Don’t wait, spots are filling fast! Register now and secure your place at the 2025 Spring Conference & Trade Show!

• House FY26 Budget Recommends $132 Million in New Medicaid Nursing Facility Funding

• Now Accepting Career Ladder Applications • Register Now for Upcoming Education Programs!

• Nursing Home HCP Flu Vaccination Reminder • Revisions to Appendix PP • New Survey Resource

• Zimmet Healthcare Issues Calculator for FFY26 Proposed Medicare SNF • States Sue Trump Administration Over Tariffs

Massachusetts residents filing new unemployment claims this week — along with eligible existing claimants — will now be able to receive benefits for up to 30 weeks, an increase from the previous maximum of 26 weeks.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has informed state Medicaid directors that it does not anticipate approving new state proposals of section 1115 demonstration expenditure authority for federal designated State Health Plan (DSHP) or Designated State Investment Program funding or renewing current approved Demonstration projects.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to offer Associate Members sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor booths for the upcoming 2025 Spring Conference & Trade Show on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA! We are currently sold out of regular exhibitor booths. Please consider one of our remaining sponsorship opportunities, or contact us to be added to our waitlist!

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On April 17th, the Health Policy Commission set the annual 2026 healthcare growth benchmark at 3.6%. The health care cost growth benchmark, the cornerstone for the state’s cost containment efforts, is a statewide target for the rate of growth of total health care expenditures (THCE), the annual sum of all health care expenditures in the Commonwealth from both private and public sources, calculated on a per person basis.

This past Monday, Laura Cannistraro completed her fourth Boston Marathon—and her second as a charity runner on behalf of Elizabeth Seton Residence (ESR), an MSCA member facility. Cannistraro’s connection to ESR is deeply personal: her grandmother currently resides at the facility, and her late grandfather was also a former resident. She runs in honor of both of them, aiming to give back to the place that provided them with compassionate care. Mass Senior Care congratulates Laura and all of this year’s Boston Marathon participants on their incredible achievement!

• Massachusetts Extends Unemployment Benefits to 30 Weeks • Register Now for Upcoming Webinar Series!

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) will be launching the new MAVRIC death registration on Monday, June 2, 2025. The application has been updated and tested and is ready for deployment.

National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) is a great time to celebrate all who live and work in nursing facilities. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has deemed this year’s theme "Tapestry of Life.” The national observance will take place from Sunday, May 11 to Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Mass Senior Care members are invited to join us for the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing on June 9-10, 2025 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. Congressional Briefing will offer opportunities to gain insight on the latest legislative and policy developments, network with colleagues, and hear from prominent speakers.

• Governor Healey Tariff Response Initiative • Trump Administration Cancels $90 Million in Disaster Prevention Aid • Know Your Rights: Immigration Resources • CMS to End Federal Matching for 1115 Demonstration State Health Plan Programs • HPC Sets 2026 Health Care Benchmark at 3.6%

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The Massachusetts Vital Records Information Collaborative (MAVRIC) system is set to launch soon and now is the time for RN/NP/PA Pronouncers to prepare for MAVRIC electronic death registration.

National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) is a great time to celebrate all who live and work in nursing facilities. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has deemed this year’s theme "Tapestry of Life.” The national observance will take place from Sunday, May 11 to Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Department of Justice Investigating Wound Care Consultants Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting Medicare SNF Off-Cycle Provider Enrollment Reporting Delayed Use of Bed Rails in Nursing Facilities

The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available for review. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on the compare tool on Medicare.gov and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the July 2025 refresh.

Due to the Payroll Based Journal quarterly deadline, the iQIES Service Center is projecting an increase in the volume of calls and emails between now and May 15, 2025.

The House Ways and Means (HWM) Committee yesterday released its FY 2026 budget recommendation totaling $61.4 billion. We are pleased to report that the Committee’s recommendation provides $132 million in new Medicaid nursing facility funding.

On April 14, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) March 25th decision to terminate CHNV Parole for individuals from Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba in Doe v. Noem.

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.

On Monday, April 14, 2025, Congressman Richard E. Neal visited the Life Care Center of Wilbraham, a Mass Senior Care member facility. During his visit, the Congressman toured the facility and met with staff, facility and corporate leadership to discuss the potential impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on healthcare facilities in the First Congressional District.

Member Update: House Ways and Means Committee Issues FY26 Budget Proposal: Recommends $132 Million in New Medicaid Nursing Facility Funding

Boston Judge Temporarily Blocks Termination of CHNV Parole for Haiti, Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela REMINDER: Requirement to Report Nursing Home HCP Influenza Vaccination and Rest Home HCP Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Register Now for Upcoming Education Programs!

CMS Proposes 2.8% Increase State FY2026 Budget Update CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz Lists Agenda Priorities

U.S. Senate Republicans voted last week, on a 51-48 party line vote, to pass a budget resolution to advance President Trump’s legislative agenda which includes increased spending for border security and defense spending, and extending the 2017 tax cuts that are set to expire this year.

At the recent National Association of Activity Professionals (NAAP) annual conference in Dallas, TX, Sandy Sarza was awarded a Quality of Excellence award for her dedicated service as President of the Massachusetts Council of Activity Professionals (MassCAP), a NAAP state affiliate. Sandy has dedicated her career to long term care and currently serves as the Administrator at Sarah Brayton Nursing Center in Fall River.

A federal court in the northern district of Texas on Tuesday vacated the CMS minimum staffing mandate on the grounds that CMS does not have the authority to issue such a staffing mandate—only Congress does. The American Health Care Association (AHCA), joined by the Texas Health Care Association (THCA), LeadingAge, and several Texas long term care facilities filed a lawsuit in May of last year against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for exceeding their statutory authority and arbitrarily and capriciously issuing the Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities final rule.

Our upcoming important programs include: Navigating Immigration Changes: What Employers Need to Know; Navigating the Latest CMS Revisions to Appendix PP and Surveyor Guidance; and the Back to Basics: Infection Control 101 Webinar Series

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 4th issued its Contract Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D rule. The final rule does not include provisions that would have increased guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence and prevent automatic denials of basic benefits without individual assessments, as contained in the proposed rule issued at the end of the Biden Administration last November.