E-News Update Articles

Wishing all of our community members who celebrate Hanukkah a season of joy!

On December 4th, Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz hosted the annual public hearing with key experts as they begin work to formulate a consensus tax revenue estimate for the Commonwealth's Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) budget.

Member Update: MassHealth Nursing Facility PDPM Billing/Claims Submission Webinar

The December 2023 Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program are now available to download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES).

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center has released a notice strongly encouraging health care organizations to upgrade their devices due to a vulnerability.

Member Updates: DPH Monthly Call Reminder: December 13, 2023; AHCA/NCAL Join Coalition Asking for Joint Employer Rule to be Nullified

Member Updates: Healey Administration and Legislature Hold FY2025 ‘Consensus Revenues’ Hearing; HHS Issues Important Cybersecurity Notice for Health Care Operators

Member Updates: Governor Healey Signs FY2023 Closeout Budget: Rescinds State COVID-19 Reporting Requirements and Establishes Career Pathway Program for Long Term Care Facilities; Fiscal 2024 Tax Collections Trailing Benchmark by $627 Million for First 5 Months of FY2024

Member Updates: CDC Food Safety Alert Regarding Cantaloupes; CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum; EOHHS Procurement for One Care Plans and SCO Plans

A Bright Horizon’s location in Massachusetts has several unopened boxes of adult and child-sized masks that they are looking to donate.

AHCA/NCAL has developed a NCAL Survey Preparedness Resource document

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has released preliminary revenue figures for the month of October indicating that total revenue collections for the first 4 months of the fiscal year 2024 (July 2023-October 2023) are $355 million or about 3% less than the year-to-date budget benchmarks.

The Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) is hosting an online listening session "Echoes from Administrators" on Thursday, December 7 at 12:15pm.

The Department of Family and Medical Leave has published 2024 workplace posters and notices for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML).

On November 20, 2023, CMS released Admin Memo: 24-05-NH to provide guidance to surveyors on areas of focus for Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS).

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on December 14th at 10 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call.

As a reminder, free COVID-19 tests through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are still available to providers.

The Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is replacing the current vital records registration system with the Massachusetts Vital Records Information Collaborative (MAVRIC), for the processing of all vital events.

Member Update: MassHealth Issues PDPM Billing Guidance on CMS Grouper Error

The Joint Commission recently released resources for nursing homes and assisted living facilities related to customer insight on the accreditation process for ALRs, FAQs on medical director requirements for Joint Commission ALR memory care certification and early identification and evaluation of severe pressure injuries.

On November 20, 2023, the Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity held a virtual press conference to push health systems to revisit masking policies.

Please see below for the conference slide decks from Mass Senior Care's 2023 Annual Meeting & Trade Show.

We would like to wish all of our members a Happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for your support and your extraordinary dedication to meeting the vital care needs of residents across the Commonwealth.

The summary, recording and transcript of the National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator held on October 17 is now available.

The EOEA Assisted Living Certification & Compliance Unit (AL-Unit) has completed the 2023 calendar year compliance reviews

At Mass Senior Care’s Annual Meeting held November 16th in Worcester, MA, a standing room only crowd listened to MSCA President Tara Gregorio and Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Secretary Kate Walsh

Member Update: MWRA Wastewater Data Shows Increase in COVID-19 Cases

This Leadership Academy is designed to teach facility leaders practical skills to help them build trust with their staff.

The DPH is encouraging long-term care facilities to attend an upcoming virtual summit on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST discussing Community Resources for Substance Use Disorders, hosted by Abt Associates and their partner, Healthcentric Advisors.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule requiring the disclosure of certain nursing home ownership, managerial, and other information, for purposes of transparency.

Please join us on Tuesday, November 28th to support the Mass Senior Care Foundation’s mission to promote workforce quality and to provide our compassionate caregivers with scholarships as they pursue advanced training and higher education.

Member Update: House of Representatives Adopts Omnibus Nursing Facility Reform Bill

Member Update: Significant Strain on Hospital Capacity in Your Region

Member Updates: House Ways and Means Committee Issues Redrafted Omnibus Nursing Facility Reform Bill – Adds Key Workforce and Rate Provisions - Vote Expected This Week; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting

Earlier this week, the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a hearing that included discussion of H1211 and S747 An Act Relative to the Nurse Licensure Compact in Massachusetts (NLC).

On Saturday, Nov. 11, we celebrate Veterans Day by honoring those who have served, fought and sacrificed for our country.

Join us as we gather for our 2023 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 16th at the DCU Center in Worcester!

Member Update: Comment Period Closes on CMS Proposed Minimum Staffing Rule

DPH will be transitioning the Nurse Aide Registry Services (NARS) to a new Health Profession Licensing System for certified nurse aides (CNAs).

With over 42,000 comments filed, 18,000 of which came from AHCA members and nearly 250 from Massachusetts, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must now review each of these comments before acting on its proposed minimum staffing rule for nursing facilities.

Member Update: MassHealth October 2023 PDPM Payments

Schedule a free Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) in November or December.

Member Updates: Long-term Care Health Personnel Vaccination for COVID-19 and Influenza; New Health Professions Licensing System for Nurse Aides

Member Updates: DPH Monthly Call Reminder: November 8, 2023; Limited Seats Available for Mass Senior Care Annual Meeting

Updated Flyer: ahcancalED offers Facility Assessments 101: The Driver of Resources, Training and Competencies

The House and Senate budget leaders are currently working on a close out budget for the prior state fiscal year 2023 budget

Massachusetts is experiencing a steady and concerning rise in COVID-19 cases in long-term care facility residents and staff.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be hosting a work authorization clinic for migrants staying in emergency family shelters during the week of November 13, 2023.

Applicants who plan to apply for a National Quality Award in 2024 are encouraged to submit an Intent to Apply (ITA) BEFORE the deadline at 8 pm ET on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

Annual Meeting & Trade Show Thursday, November 16, 2023 DCU Center, Worcester 9:30am – 3:00pm