E-News Update Articles

The CDC is discontinuing the COVID-19 Community Transmission map with the end of the PHE on May 11th. To better align with these updated CDC recommendations, CMS announced the expiration of QSO-20-38-NH (COVID-19 Testing) effective May 11th and the revision of QSO-20-39-NH (Visitation) effective May 8th. The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. DPH will be holding a conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, May 10th. Limited registrations remaining for May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show.

The Senate Ways and Means (SWM) Committee today released its FY 2024 budget recommendation totaling $55.8 billion. The Committee’s recommendation, similar to the House’s final budget recommendation, includes MSCA’s funding request of $277 million over the current FY 2023 Medicaid nursing facility budget appropriation.

Member Updates: CDC and CMS Update COVID-19 Guidance; Joint Committee on Health Care Financing to Hold Public Hearing on MSCA Temporary Nursing Service Agency Bill; DPH Conference Call for Long Term Care Providers on May 10th; Register Now for Next Week’s Spring Conference & Trade Show.

DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness. Also, DPH released updated guidance on Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). MassHealth is working to add nursing facility capacity in urban areas, especially greater Boston, for patients with behavioral health needs including mental illness, ABI and TBI. Join us for a dynamic and informative program featuring Steven Littlehale from Zimmet Healthcare, Dr. Sasha Albert, Associate Director at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Catherine Nwachukwu, Manager for Strategy and Research at the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), and a member provider panel featuring Adam Berman, President & CEO of Legacy Lifecare and Deb Richardson, VP of Talent Management at Integritus Healthcare.

The HealthSec: Cyber Security for Healthcare Summit launches its very first edition in Boston, Massachusetts on May 23rd - 24th.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder yesterday announced that preliminary revenue collections for April 2023 declined sharply from the April 2022 collections, by a total of $2.2 billion or 31%.

Republican and Democrat Congressional lawmakers continue to negotiate the details of extending the U.S. debt ceiling to enable the government to continue to pay its bills on time.

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through June 1, 2023 with promo code GNP4QUALITY (all caps).

Join us for a dynamic and informative program featuring Steven Littlehale from Zimmet Healthcare, Dr. Sasha Albert, Associate Director at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Catherine Nwachukwu, Manager for Strategy and Research at the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), and a member provider panel featuring Adam Berman, President & CEO of Legacy Lifecare and Deb Richardson, VP of Talent Management at Integritus Healthcare.

Member Updates: MassHealth Seeks to Add Nursing Facility Capacity; MassHealth Posts Nursing Facility MDS Provider Information Session Materials; Limited Registrations Remaining for May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show.

On Monday, CMS released a new regulatory memo QSO-23-13-ALL entitled Guidance for Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. Final chance to register for Friday's webinar Ready, Set, Go...Away: Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS (PART 1). Join Mass Senior Care at our May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show.

Member Updates: CDC Announces NHSN Reporting Relief; HHS BinaxNOW Program to Continue After PHE Ends

On April 26, 2023, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office released an audit report of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), which reviewed the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. The current audit followed up on deficiencies found in a 2018 Audit Report, completed under the previous administration

Join us for a dynamic and informative program featuring Steven Littlehale from Zimmet Healthcare, Dr. Sasha Albert, Associate Director at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Tara Gregorio and Susan Misiorski from Mass Senior Care Association and a member provider panel. We will spend the day learning 10 concrete steps you can take to mitigate risk in your facility as well as best practices on building a pipeline of new workers while ensuring equity in your workforce.

On October 1, 2023, MassHealth will transition to a Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) from MMQs. Mass Senior Care is partnering with Celtic Consulting to provide a series of webinars from May – October to help members develop and implement new policies and procedures to ensure accurate and appropriate reimbursement as we simultaneously manage the MMQ process through October

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is working to modernize its Vital Records and Statistics system with the electronic completion of RN/NP/PA pronouncements

The CDC recently updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to provide options for people at higher risk who will benefit from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses and to simplify vaccine schedules.

Member Updates: Reminder: Ensure Accurate Medicaid Days Reporting on Quarterly User Fee Form; New Option for MassHealth NF Customer Service

As a reminder, nursing homes are required to submit HCP influenza data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) by May 15, 2023. The annual healthcare personnel influenza vaccination summary data must be reported through the NHSN HPS Component. As a condition of licensure, all licensed healthcare facilities must: Offer free-of-charge, annual influenza vaccine to all personnel (full and part-time employees, contracted employees, volunteers, house staff and students). Document receipt of influenza vaccine

On April 26, 2023 The Roadmap to Health Care Safety for Massachusetts was released at the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum. Leaders from health care organizations, patient advocates and policymakers were among the nearly 200 people who attended the public forum in Boston.

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.

Member Updates: COVID-19 Vaccines; Register Now for “Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS” Webinar; Spring Conference Registration is Now Open.

Member Updates: MassHealth Issues Updated Billing Guidance; MassHealth Issues Two Eligibility Operations Memos; Department of Family and Medical Leave Extension Request; Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) A Claims Transformation Office Hours for LTSS; Register Now for “Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS” Webinar.

Member Updates: EOHHS Updates OneCare and SCO Plan Contract Rates; Reminder: MassHealth Re-Issues COVID-Preparedness Program Bulletin; Register Now for “Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS” Webinar.

There is no question that building a pipeline of new nurses is key to filling the 1,500 vacant LPN positions in Massachusetts nursing facilities! To assist members with growing their own nurses, MSCA is pleased to release a new toolkit detailing steps in upskilling incumbent CNAs to LPNs. While there are still spaces available for the upcoming fall 2023 semester, time is of the essence for individuals interested in pursuing this option as most schools make their admission decisions no

MSCA President Tara Gregorio, earlier this month presented testimony to the Legislature on Senate 379 and House 648, Acts to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long Term Care. The proposed omnibus nursing facility reform bill is designed to address workforce, resident care, and suitability issues identified by the 2020 Nursing Facility Task Force. The bill includes vital workforce investments, among other items, that establish career ladder grants, create a tuition reimbursement program, and fund living wages for front line employees

Member Update: MassHealth Schedules 2nd Training Webinar for Transition to a Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM): April 27th.

In the wake of the expiring public health emergency and persistent capacity constraints within healthcare facilities, a coalition of leading organizations is coming together to promote proactive care decision-making by calling on patients to designate a healthcare agent and complete a health care proxy document.

Mass Senior Care has long supported and advocated for the conversion of the Medicaid MMQ payment system to the Federal MDS acuity system thereby eliminating the administrative burden of operating 2 acuity systems and to better capture the cost of resident care, which will become effective on October 1, 2023.

Abt Associates and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will host an in-person conference Collaborating on the Care of Residents with Substance Use Disorders in Long-Term Care on June 27th from 9AM – 3PM at the DCU Center in Worcester.

This week AHCA’s CMS Requirements of Participation focus F-tag of the week is Activities of Daily Living.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that the Notifications of Enforcement Discretion issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act during the COVID-19 public health emergency will expire at 11:59 pm on May 11, 2023, due to the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

MassHealth on April 3rd announced that it is accepting online eligibility applications for Seniors and People of any age who need LTC services. Please click here to access the online application form and instructions on how to file online.

The Mass Chapter of ACHCA invites all practicing administrators to attend their listening session, Echoes from Administrators virtually on Thursday, May 4th at 2:00 pm for one hour.

Identification of individuals infected or colonized with Candida auris is increasing in Massachusetts. Ongoing efforts to contain the spread of C. auris in healthcare settings rely on primary infection control measures and screening of contacts to identify C. auris colonization.

The House Ways and Means (HWM) Committee this week released its FY 2024 budget recommendation totaling $56.2 billion. We are pleased to report that the Committee’s recommendation includes MSCA’s funding request proposing a $112 million increase over current reimbursement rates.

Member Updates: HWM’s Committee FY24 Budget Recommendation Funds Free Community College; MassHealth Issues Eligibility Operations Memo.

CMS will host a National Stakeholder Call with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Click here to register for the call.

Member Updates: House Ways & Means Committee Budget Recommends $112 Million Over Current Nursing Facility Rates; MassHealth Re-Issues COVID-Preparedness Program Bulletin; Register for MassHealth April 26th Training Webinar.

Member Updates: DPH Conference Call for Long Term Care Providers on Wednesday, April 12, 2023; Webinar Recording Now Available: FY24 SNF Proposed Payment Rule.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Elder Affairs has scheduled a public in person and virtual hearing on Monday, April 10th at 9:30 am on the Omnibus Nursing Home reform bill: An Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care.

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual is now available. The MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.18.11 will be effective beginning October 01, 2023.

As the October deadline draws closer for compliance with the food and nutrition director requirements, a reminder that CMS added to the requirements for the director of food and nutrition services at § 483.60(a)(2)(E) as part of the 2023 SNF PPS rule published in August 2022.

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) continues to develop resources and tools to assist nursing facilities with maintaining compliance with the CMS Requirements of Participation (RoPs).

The Betsy Lehman Center will introduce the new Roadmap to Health Care Safety at the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum in Boston on April 26.

The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, 2023, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET.

CMS is preparing to move to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) for Minimum Data Set (MDS) submissions.

The Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators has verified that all Nursing Home Administrator licensees are required to complete 20 CEUs for this renewal period ending 6/20/2023.

CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Quality Safety Oversight Group has issued a revised 21-page Guidance and Survey Process for Reviewing Home Dialysis Services in a Nursing Home (Rev QSO-18-24-ESRD) to State Survey Agency Directors. This is effective immediately.

The Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) has issued its Spring Data Matters newsletter highlighting the agency’s recent actions.