E-News Update Articles

Massachusetts has made recent legislative changes to the paid family and medical leave (PFML).

Member Updates: Public Comments on CMS Proposed Staffing Rule Due November 6th; MassHealth Issues Nursing Facility Bulletin 182: Updated Reporting on Staff Hours and Staffing Preparedness for NFs; Registration is Now Open for the Mass Senior Care Annual Meeting

Member Update: Onsite Vaccine Clinics for Nursing Facility Staff

Last week at its annual Convention & Expo, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) elected AHCA's Board of Governors and NCAL's Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 term.

The comment period for the CMS proposed minimum staffing rule ends on November 6, 2023, just 24 days from today.

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.

AHCA has released a new vaccine reimbursement guide

AHCA/NCAL Member Webinar on CMS Minimum Staffing Proposal: Friday, October 20 at 3:30 PM Eastern

The Assisted Living Certification & Compliance Unit at EOEA has developed a new information management platform that will include an updated incident reporting system and database of each ALR currently certified to operate in MA.

Save the Date for Mass Senior Care Association's 2023 Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 16, 2023

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association.

Member Updates: AHCA/NCAL Member Webinar on CMS Minimum Staffing Proposal; Final Month of Comment Period on CMS Proposed Rule is Ticking Away; EOHHS Issues DCC-Q Report for RY23 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023); EOEA - Survey: ALR Characteristics; AHCA New - #GetVaccinated Reimbursement Guide

Member Updates: CMS to Host SNF/LTC Open Door Forum on Thursday; MassHealth Continues to Work on MMIS and MDS Level of Care Issues

Member Updates: EOHHS To Issue Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Year 2024 Letters Today; Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits Available through DPH; DPH Monthly Long-Term Care Stakeholder Call; Final Chance to Register for DEI Webinar Series

Hamel-Lydon Chapel, an MSCA Associate Member, is proud to announce this year's 10 recipients and their respective organizations that represent compassionate care and provide exceptional service to patients and families.

As the new COVID-19 vaccine is being released, long term care facilities need to be aware of the CMS and DPH regulatory requirement to educate and offer the COVID-19 vaccine to staff and residents.

MassHealth has reached out to Mass Senior Care to encourage all nursing facilities to participate in the upcoming virtual summit

Governor Healey has signed into law a $ 1 billion tax reform package

In less than one month, over 4,000 letters have been sent by concerned providers from across the country to CMS registering their concerns about its proposed federal “one size fits all” minimum staffing rule.

CMS will hold a national stakeholder call with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure

At the AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention in Denver, Colorado, six Massachusetts skilled nursing facilities were recognized as AHCA/NCAL Silver Quality Award winners.

On Wednesday, the Boston Globe reported on CDC Director Mandy Cohen’s visit to the Whittier Street Health Clinic in Roxbury.

Member Update: MassHealth Implements LTSS Provider Self-Service Online Inquiry Form; Corrected Email Address for MDS Section S Questions

Member Update: Boston Globe Editorial Highlights Backlog in Discharging Hospital Patients; Amended Regulations Related to Changes to COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Personnel; Rate Year 2024 Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Letters

Member Update: MassHealth Nursing Facility Transition to MDS effective October 1, 2023

Member Update: EOHHS Issues Rate Year 2024 Medicaid NF Rates

Register for our remaining Fall Education Programs!

The House and Senate on Thursday enacted and sent Governor Healey a compromise tax reform bill.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health today issued a memorandum regarding important updates to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Section S documents

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

Members are urged to join the Mass Senior Care Association (MSCA) and American Health Care Association in opposing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed “one size fits all” minimum staffing rule

Member Update: EOEA Quarterly Conference Call – October 4, 2023

Member Updates: MassHealth Issues Two Important MDS Billing Reminders for NFs; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting

Member Updates: CMS Updates Nursing Home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures; Mass Senior Care Testifies at Joint Public Health Committee Hearing on Certified Medication Aide Bills; DPH Issues Data Brief on Trends in Nursing Facility Resident Falls

Member Update: MassHealth Issues Nursing Facility Bulletin 181

Now is the time to register for important clinical and regulatory programs!

Yesterday, the Biden administration announced plans to make it legally possible for Venezuelan immigrants to seek work in the United States.

Thank you to all Mass Senior Care Members for sharing how you spent National Assisted Living Week!

At Mass Senior Care’s request for the benefit of membership, on August 16th EOHHS issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit relevant information from nursing facilities to enable MassHealth to create enhanced rates to serve these populations.

On September 11, the FDA approved for emergency use updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2023-2024 manufactured by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

MSCA has a partnership with Incite Strategic Partners, the exclusive Group Purchasing Organization of AHCA/NCAL.

DPH will host two virtual training sessions focused on the new MDS Section S questions, which pertain to state-specific items for Massachusetts long-term care facilities.

Member Update: Medicaid Nursing Facility PDPM Nursing Rates - Updated

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores.

Member Update: Register Now for September 28th Members Only MMQ/PDPM Conversion Webinar

Member Updates: Joint Committee on Public Health to Hold Public Hearing on September 21, 2023; MassHealth Updates NF Manual; MMQ/MDS Conversion FAQ #2

Member Update: EOHHS Issues Two Advisory Bulletins on Nursing Facility User Fee Assessment

Fall is here! Now is the time to register for important clinical and regulatory programs.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted a number of updated Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting (SNF QRP) manuals and other measure calculation resources on the Agency’s SNF QRP Measures and Technical Information webpage.

Member Updates: Governor Healey Files FY23 Closeout Budget: Includes Proposed Repeal of REDCap COVID-19 Reporting Requirements; Public Health Council Approves Changes to COVID-19 Vaccination Regulation for Health Care Personnel; Hurricane Lee Preparations; EOEA to Host Quarterly Conference Call with Assisted Living Residences (ALRs); Final Chance to Register for Important Labor Law Update