E-News Update Articles

AHCA/NCAL recently hosted a webinar to discuss the importance of and tips on contacting CMS to weigh in on proposals the agency is writing for SNF minimum staffing requirements. Presenters included AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson and Senior Director, Grassroots Program Matthew Smyth.

CMS recently released the third edition the SNF QRP Public Reporting (PR) Tip Sheet. The tip sheet provides the following updates:

The Cambridge Community Learning Center (CLC) offers a free 16-week CNA training course uniquely designed to support English language learners. Individuals who sign up for this CLC course should have intermediate English language ability.

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.

Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) are a new infection prevention and control recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect residents from multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

Register now for these upcoming sessions. Please note the February 10th session is offered exclusively to MSCA members at no charge.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the CMS has announced new actions to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and to bring greater transparency about nursing home citations to families. In addition, EOHHS Issues SUD training update and reminders.

The Biden administration is “growing frustrated” with the low vaccination rates among residents in nursing facilities and has begun forwarding to state regulators lists of nursing facilities with few residents vaccinated. On January 24, 2023, from 1:00 pm -2:00 pm CMS will host a national stakeholder call to highlight CMS’ key 2022 accomplishments and look ahead to how CMS’ 2023 priorities will advance the CMS Strategic Plan.

Did you know? MSCA has a member program with Incite Strategic Partners, the exclusive Group Purchasing Organization of AHCA/NCAL. Members across the country have been saving on their everyday purchases on many products and services including Dining, Medical, Supplies, and Technology through their Incite membership. MSCA member communities of all sizes are eligible to participate in the Incite program. It’s free to join Incite and takes about 5 minutes using their online enrollment tool: Incite Member Enrollment . Incite recently

Register Now for MSD webinars, discounted rate available for attending both webinars.

The Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech (MeHI) is seeking digital health startups to compete in the Massachusetts Digital Health Sandbox Challenge Program. The first Challenge is aimed at finding unique digital health solutions that improve the lives of older adults and help them remain active, productive, independent, and socially connected.

The DPH is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the development of infection control trainings for frontline healthcare personnel.

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently announced the launch of “Careers in Caring”, a national campaign to educate job seekers about the career opportunities in long term care and equip nursing facilities and assisted living communities with the resources they need to successfully recruit new caregivers to the field.

AHCA has a released a new life safety compliance webinar for new facilities managers. This 1-hour educational webinar walks through the CMS nursing home life safety inspection process, provides an overview of the applicable codes and standards, addresses how to access and navigate the codes, identifies CMS survey tools and reports, and discusses some of the most commonly cited life safety deficiencies

​​​​Yesterday, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration​ that a public health emergency (PHE) exists.

​​​​Today, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration​ that a public health emergency (PHE) exists. Also, register for upcoming educational webinars.

Many nursing homes and rest homes successfully participated in the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) training and technical assistance program, Caring for Residents with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in Long-Term Care (LTC).

Building on its 38-year legacy of assisting long term care staff in furthering their education, the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation is proud to announce its 2022 Foundation Scholars.

The Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech (MeHI) is seeking digital health startups to compete in the Massachusetts Digital Health Sandbox Challenge Program. The first Challenge is aimed at finding unique digital health solutions that improve the lives of older adults and help them remain active, productive, independent, and socially connected.

With sustained reliance on TNS we are providing an important reminder to members of the need to obtain and maintain current Certificates of Workers’ Compensation Insurance from TNS agencies prior to utilizing TNS employees.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will be holding a conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, January 11 at 11:00 a.m.

Prepare now for the upcoming changes to MDS!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a sharp jump in a new XBB variant level, particularly in the Northeast. Information on prior authorization for SNF admissions waived. Massachusetts regulations 105 CMR 721.000: Standards for Prescription Format and Security provided an exception to the ePrescribing mandate for prescriptions written for long term care (LTC) residents.

As we get closer to the January 1, 2023, deadline for meeting the MassHealth eligibility criteria for COVID-19 preparedness payments related to “at least 90% of the nursing facility’s staff are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination”, Mass Senior Care would like to remind members that this data used to determine eligibility will be pulled from the NHSN data submitted by each nursing facility. Also, AHCA/NCAL has developed a new #GetVaccinated handout to help long term care staff discuss the value of the bivalent booster with their residents.

DPH released information for Massachusetts long-term care facilities on the steps needed to fulfill the DPH requirement to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza data by May 15, 2023. In addition, long-term care facilities that are required to report annual healthcare personnel influenza vaccination data into NHSN must do so using the Healthcare Personnel Safety (HPS) Component.

Six people with disabilities residing in nursing facilities have filed a class action lawsuit in federal district court in Boston that Governor Charlie Baker and other state officials have failed to provide community residential services and supports, claiming that this failure has forced thousands of people with disabilities to live in segregated nursing facilities rather than in the community.

The Biden Administration announced a COVID-19 Winter Preparedness Plan. The plan expands access to testing, vaccines and treatments, preparing for the impact of variants, cases and hospitalizations in local communities, and protecting the most-high risk Americans, including residents of nursing homes and other congregate living facilities.

We are very pleased to report that EOHHS last Friday officially updated the Rate Year 2023 Medicaid Nursing Facility STANDARD case-mix rates and Medicaid nursing facility regulation to invest an additional $165 million in vital funding for a cumulative total investment of $306 million for Rate Year 2023, for the purpose of investing in our workforce and ensuring access to quality nursing facility care.

Earlier this week, Governor-elect Maura Healey announced her first three senior staff Cabinet appoints to fill out her Administration. University of Massachusetts finance administrator Matthew Gorzkowicz will serve as secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, the state’s top budget official. Gorzkowicz previously served as the Senate’s budget director and he also served as assistant secretary for budget in Governor Patrick’s Administration.

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, Mass Senior Care along with several members and other stakeholders held a roundtable discussion with Department of Health and Human Services Region 1 as well as central office representatives from HHS and CMS.

As a reminder, all Massachusetts temporary nursing licenses will expire on December 31, 2022.  To continue to practice in Massachusetts after December 31, 2022, nurses now practicing with a temporary license, who have not already submitted an application for permanent licensure within the last year, must apply right away.    

The next 90 days are critical for the healthcare system due to the prevalence of three viruses, workforce shortages and hospital capacity issues. Governor Baker and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mary Lou Sudders have asked all providers in the Commonwealth’s health care system to assist in building capacity and ensuring timely throughput.

After a three year hiatus due to COVID-19, providers and associate members were happy to gather in-person at the Mass Senior Care Foundation’s Annual Fundraising Event held recently at Gore Place in Waltham.

As a reminder, all Massachusetts temporary nursing licenses will expire on December 31, 2022. The US Department of Health & Human Services has launched We Can Do This, a national COVID-19 public education campaign. MassHealth has re-issued the COVID-19 Preparedness Program Payments Bulletin with a technical amendment on the attestation form filing procedure for nursing facilities interested in filing for the incentive payment.

Yesterday, the DPH sent out additional information related to their request to CMS for an extension of the 1135 waiver of the requirements contained in 42 CFR §483.35(d) Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for Massachusetts SNF/NFs.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will be holding a conference call for LTC facilities on Wednesday, December 14 at 11:00 a.m. As a reminder, MassHealth last month issued the COVID-19 Preparedness Program Payments Bulletin specifying the criteria for nursing facilities to qualify for a one-time quality improvement supplemental payment in February 2023. Also, you are invited to join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, and the Massachusetts Senior Care Association for a Roundtable Discussion on Strategies to Increase Bivalent Booster Rates in the Commonwealth’s Assisted Living Residences and Skilled Nursing Facilities.

CMS will host the next open forum on Thursday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m. ET. DPH released an important update regarding COVID-19 Therapeutics. Members are reminded of the October 13, 2022, DPH Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure.

On December 2, 2022 the DPH released revisions to the LTC Surveillance and Outbreak Testing Guidance, and a reminder that all Massachusetts temporary nursing licenses will expire on December 31, 2022.

Mass Senior Care is reminding all nursing facilities that have nurse aides that require testing to meet the December 31, 2022, deadline to get them scheduled as soon as possible.

The Biden Administration announced a 6-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates including a focus on nursing homes. The CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Vaccination Unit is providing a refresher webinar on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. DPH has updated their Paxlovid Treatment Guide as a resource for providers to strongly consider administering it when evaluating COVID-19 patients.

The revised Phase 2 and the Phase 3 requirements of participation (RoP) went into effect on October 24, 2022. Many members have indicated that they are still working on implementing these changes and would benefit from education related to the RoPs.

In August 2022, as part of the 2023 SNF PPS rule, CMS added to the requirements for the director of food and nutrition services at § 483.60(a)(2)(E). The addition now allows for another pathway for the director of food and nutrition to qualify for the position; this includes having two or more years of experience in the position of director of food and nutrition services in a nursing facility setting and has completed a course of study in food safety and management, by no later than October 1, 2023.

At last week’s MSCA 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Governor Charlie Baker told attendees that the pandemic has challenged the long-term caregiving community in ways that go way beyond what others faced. The population in nursing homes, combined with the incredible contagiousness of the Covid-19 virus put nursing homes in a tenuous position and they performed “exceptionally well given the circumstances.”

Mass Senior Care reminds members that in accordance with the Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-18 (issued September 30, 2022): All temporary nursing licenses will expire on December 31, 2022. The Biden Administration announced a 6-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates including a focus on nursing homes. The CDC National Healthcare Safety Network Vaccination Unit is providing a refresher webinar on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, from 1:30 - 2:30 PM Eastern Time to review the up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination definition for LTC facilities reporting data through the COVID-19 Vaccination Modules.

The FY 2023 SNF PPS Final Rule that was published in the Federal Register August 2022, requires CMS-certified skilled nursing facilities to report annual Healthcare Personnel influenza vaccination summary data through the NHSN HPS Component for the 2022-2023 influenza season.

Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced a 6-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates including a focus on nursing homes.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the mental health needs of frontline healthcare workers who have experienced the pandemic as both a personal crisis and a workplace crisis, having been deemed essential workers. MASStrong will provide support to the frontline healthcare workforce, prioritizing their resilience and mental health, with a focus on low wage frontline workers such as nursing home workers, home health aides, and long-term care aides. Supporting these important and vulnerable healthcare workers is the core mission of the MASStrong Program.

DPH released updated information on Declaration of Jeopardy for Outbreaks or Clusters in Long-Term Care Facilities, MassHealth issued on CommBuys an amendment to its Nursing Facility Provider Transitions Program Request for Applications (RFA) clarifying the minimum qualifications for funding consideration, DPH shared an important update regarding COVID-19 therapeutics, and MassHealth has issued an eligibility operations memo.

Yesterday, the DPH shared that effective November 14, 2022, several COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Orders were rescinded. However, please note that although these orders have been rescinded, they have been replaced by longer term and more sustainable updates to statutes and regulations.