E-News Update Articles

To support the needs of nursing home residents with behavioral needs, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) today issued a memo noting that this summer the agency will be enhancing the Behavioral Health Community Partners (BHCP) Program, expanding support provided by the DMH Case Management Team, and expanding the Community Transitions Liaison Program (CTLP).

Register Now for Important Mass Senior Care Webinars

AHCA/NCAL’s Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO) is recommended for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control in all long term care settings and is specifically tailored to train Infection Preventionists (IPs) in nursing facilities.

Member Update: MassHealth Trading Partner Testing (TPT) for transition to MDS 3.0: Enroll by June 27th

MassHealth will be hosting Trading Partner Testing (TPT) beginning in mid-August 2023 to support the transition to MDS 3.0 for payment purposes effective October 1, 2023, for nursing facilities.

Mass Senior Care is proud to celebrate National Certified Nursing Assistant Week in recognition of the incredible care our compassionate and dedicated CNAs provide to residents every day.

Member Updates: CMS Reminds Hospitals of Discharge Requirements to Post-Acute Care Providers; Register Now for Important Workforce and MMQ Conversion Webinars

This week, CMS updated the Infection Control Critical Element (CE) pathway related to the end of the Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate announced May 31, 2023.

The Legislature has scheduled the following two separate Committee hearings on senior care issues on June 12 and June 13.

Nursing facility June quarterly feedback reports for the FY 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing Program from iQIES are now available.

The State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program issued its annual report for Federal Fiscal Year 2022, as required by federal regulations.

This week, Mass Senior Care members and staff took part in the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing in Washington D.C., to advocate for nursing facility care and bring the profession’s legislative priorities to Capitol Hill.

Since their release on April 3, 2023, MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets and draft RAI guidance were updated and substantial changes were made to several sections.

Member Updates: Conferring Rights to NHSN Health Care Personnel Influenza Data to DPH; Graduated Nursing Students/Senior Nursing Students Authorization Extension; Register Now for Ready, Set, Go...away MMQ! Part 2 Webinar.

Ready, Set, Go...away MMQ! Join Us for Part 2: Operationalizing Massachusetts MMQ transition to Medicaid PDPM Case Mix Zoom Webinar Wednesday, July 12, 2023 11:00am – 1:00pm Member Fee: - $60.00 CEUs – 2.0 Click here to register. Effective July 2023, nursing facilities are tasked with completing the final Management Minutes Questionnaire (MMQ) turnaround, as we simultaneously transition to a MDS based reimbursement system on October 1, 2023. The Medicaid reimbursement system will be based on a Medicaid Patient Driven

As reported previously, with the end of the PHE, certain data elements will be removed from the NHSN reporting requirement. The CDC is hosting a series of webinars on the changes to the COVID-19 Module Surveillance changes starting June 1st. The next DPH Monthly Stakeholder call is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14th at 11:00 AM EST.

MassHealth has announced that it intends to issue COVID-19 Preparedness payments on June 6th to eligible nursing facilities. Register Now: The CNA to LPN Pipeline: Steps to Growing Your Own Nurses Webinar.

Legislative leadership has appointed the 6-member FY2024 Budget Conference members to reconcile differences between the branches’ separate recommendations.

To address our historic nursing shortage, it is critically necessary that facilities invest in strategies to grow your own workforce, including upskilling CNAs to become LPNs.

The call summary, recording and transcript of the April 25, CMS National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and her leadership team is available.

On May 22, 2023, EOEA Secretary Elizabeth Chen released guidance for assisted living facilities on Best Practices for Preventing the Transmission of Respiratory Viruses, such as COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza.

With the theme of Cultivating Kindness, nursing facilities across the state found creative and fun ways to celebrate National Skilled Nursing Home Week (May 14-20), including box car races, Elvis impersonators, hosting tea parties, planting gardens and donating to local food pantries.

This year, National Certified Nursing Assistants Week is from June 15th to June 21st, 2023. This week aims to celebrate and recognize the incredible work that CNAs do everyday in our nursing facilities and assisted living residences.

The Marcum Healthcare Symposium, Navigating Change in Senior Living, brings together industry leaders and providers from the healthcare community with the goal to bring awareness to the challenges within the senior living arena.

CMS has reissued transmittal instructions for Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to perform a 5-claim probe and educate medical review on every SNF in their jurisdiction.

The CMS Quality, Safety & Evaluation Portal (QSEP) provides the full curriculum of surveyor training and guidance on health care facility regulations. QSEP is an online platform, and all training is available on-demand.

Administrative, clinical and operations staff from nursing facilities across the state attended Mass Senior Care’s May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester.

Four Mass Senior Care member facilities are being recognized with a 2023 Bronze – Commitment in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).

The DPH has provided Mass Senior Care with the following contact information for the Department of Facility Licensure and Certification.

Adam Ernst, Executive Director of the Leonard Florence Center for Living, has been selected as one of 38 long term care professionals from across the country to participate in the nineteenth annual "Future Leaders of Long Term Care (LTC) in America" program hosted by the American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).

CMS has released updates to several survey resource documents, including the Entrance Conference form and the Infection Prevention, Control, and Immunization Critical Element (CE) pathway.

On May 18th, the U.S. Senate Special Committee issued a new report, titled “Uninspected and Neglected,” detailing the results of a year-long investigation into the capacity of state survey agencies to oversee health and safety standards at the Nation’s 15,000 nursing homes.

On May 31, 2023, ​CMS withdrew all requirements to vaccinate staff for COVID-19. HOWEVER, Massachusetts regulations, under 105 CMR 150.002 D. (11) Requirement for Personnel to Be Vaccinated against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Caused by the Virus SARS-CoV-2, requires each facility to ensure all personnel have received COVID-19 vaccination, unless an individual is subject to an exemption.

MassHealth today via emergency regulation updated the Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Regulation to implement the policy change to the methodology of the COVID-19 Preparedness Payments creating two groups based on two different thresholds.

Member Updates: MassHealth Issues Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Update to MassHealth Nursing Facility Program Regulations; Register Now for MSCA’s CNA to LPN Pipeline Webinar On June 28th

With the theme of Cultivating Kindness, nursing facilities across the state found creative and fun ways to celebrate National Skilled Nursing Home Week (May 14-20), including box car races, Elvis impersonators, hosting tea parties, planting gardens and donating to local food pantries.

Member Updates: Senate Adopts FY 2024 Budget; Register Now for CNA to LPN Pipeline Webinar

To address our historic nursing shortage, it is critically necessary that facilities invest in strategies to grow your own workforce, including upskilling CNAs to become LPNs. Register now for MSCA's webinar "The CNA to LPN Pipeline: Steps to Growing Your Own Nurses".

CMS has released updates to several survey resource documents, including the Entrance Conference form and the Infection Prevention, Control, and Immunization Critical Element (CE) pathway.

On May 18th, the U.S. Senate Special Committee issued a new report, titled “Uninspected and Neglected,” detailing the results of a year-long investigation into the capacity of state survey agencies to oversee health and safety standards at the Nation’s 15,000 nursing homes.

The healthcare industry is an ever-fluctuating arena deeply impacted by Federal and State legislative changes, economic turmoil and resident expectations.

CMS has reissued transmittal instructions for Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to perform a 5-claim probe and educate medical review on every SNF in their jurisdiction.

On May 22, 2023, EOEA Secretary Elizabeth Chen released guidance for assisted living facilities on Best Practices for Preventing the Transmission of Respiratory Viruses, such as COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza.

The DPH has provided Mass Senior Care with the following contact information for the Department of Facility Licensure and Certification:

Adam Ernst, Executive Director of the Leonard Florence Center for Living, has been selected as one of 38 long term care professionals from across the country to participate in the nineteenth annual "Future Leaders of Long Term Care (LTC) in America" program hosted by the American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).

The CMS Quality, Safety & Evaluation Portal (QSEP) provides the full curriculum of surveyor training and guidance on health care facility regulations. QSEP is an online platform, and all training is available on-demand.

Member Updates: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; DPH Issues Naloxone Advisory

Established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with CMS, the COE-NF offers Certified Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Staff a centralized resource hub with easy access to trainings, technical assistance and additional resources, at no cost.

National Nurses Week is underway May 6-12, 2023, with a theme of “You Make a Difference.” MSCA extends our heartfelt appreciation to all nurses who have dedicated their career and talents to ensure the residents of MA nursing facilities receive the highest quality care. We salute each of you and look forward to the many celebrations as nurses are honored for the difference they make in the lives of residents, family members and coworkers. As part of National Nurses Week

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued the “Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications” – a temporary rule that extends telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).