E-News Update Articles

The 2022 AHCA/NCAL education product guide is now available and includes program information on topics relevant to the long term care provider community, including COVID-19 Infection & Prevention, Workforce, Behavioral Health and Trauma Informed Care, PDPM, IPCO, Supervisory Training and more. We encourage you to share this information with your staff and take advantage of the discounted pricing offered to MSCA/NCAL members.

It has come to Mass Senior Care’s attention that some temporary staffing agencies are recommending potential employees enroll in and take the AHCA Temporary Nurse Aide program in order to be placed as a temporary nurse aide/resident care assistant in a nursing facility.

Governor Baker’s Administration today announced the method it will use to distribute the first portion of the $460 million Essential Employee Premium Pay Program for low-income workers that was funded through the state’s COVID-19 recovery law enacted last December, and the DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

The DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

CMS released an updated version of the Nursing Home Visitation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The updates provide important clarifications.

On March 21, 2022, MassHealth will implement changes to the Eligibility Verification System (EVS) and the HIPAA Health Care Eligibility Benefit Inquiry and Response (270/271) transaction to include the additional benefit plans:

We are pleased to inform members that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has begun the process of issuing the new 10% COVID-19 Supplemental Payments authorized under Administrative Bulletin 22-02: Payment Methodologies for New and Existing Nursing Facility Payments under 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities.

The Boston Globe’s 19th annual special section will launch on Globe.com on May 6, in observance of National Nurses Day, and publish in the May 8 issue of The Boston Sunday Globe. This special section celebrates the frontline workers who’ve gone above and beyond this past year to ensure the health of their patients and their families in times of need. The section will feature letters from patients and families giving thanks to special nurses in their lives, as well

CMS made updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide effective January 27, 2022.

Mass Senior Care urged EOHHS to extend the Supplemental Workforce Payments through the remainder of the current rate year, and the legislature sent to Governor Baker a FY 2022 Supplemental Budget Bill which would fund additional testing within the Commonwealth and provide free masks for schools and congregate settings including nursing facilities.

EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders recently released a letter addressed to families of long-term care residents. This letter includes guidance for families and visitors on keeping long-term care residents safe during visits.

Due to the popularity of the CMS National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call, CMS has upgraded the meeting link so that everyone can gain access. Please see new registration link.

Join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a National Stakeholder Call providing updates on COVID-19, revisions to nursing home guidance, and best practices, and the DPH updated the clinical guidance document on therapeutic treatments for COVID-19 that replaces the one issued on January 12, 2022.

Yesterday the DPH released updated guidance on the Implementation of Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Control of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities, and CMS made updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide effective January 27, 2022.

As outlined in QSO memo 22-08-NH from earlier this year CMS has added 5 five additional staffing measures to Care Compare (formerly Nursing Home Compare). Three staff turnover and two weekend staffing measures have been added to with the latest update.

Massachusetts Representatives Lori Trahan, Jake Auchincloss, Katherine Clark, Jim McGovern, Ayanna Pressley and Seth Moulton have signed on to a Congressional letter to President Biden’s COVID-19 Response team coordinator listing their concerns that certain nurse-staffing agencies are taking advantage of the pandemic to increase their profits at the expense of patients. The letter urges the White House to enlist one or more of the federal agencies with competition and consumer protection authority to investigate this conduct to determine if it

Today is the last chance to submit a National Quality Award Application – applications must be submitted by 8pm EST on Thursday, January 27.

The Baker-Polito Administration yesterday filed its Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget proposal totaling $48.5 billion, in which the Governor proposes maintaining the current nursing facility funding levels.

Today, Secretary Marylou Sudders released a letter addressed to families of long-term care residents, and on January 25, 2022 CMS issued memo QSO-22-10-ALL to all State Survey Agencies, requiring onsite surveyors - including CLIA and Life Safety surveyors - to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an acceptable medical or religious exemption.

Yesterday the DPH released updated guidance on Caring for LTC Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency which required testing of all staff that were not up to date with COVID-19 vaccine at the beginning of each shift, and on Friday, January 21, 2022, the FDA approved Remdesivir (Veklury), administered in a series of three daily intravenous infusions (200 mg, 100 mg, 100 mg), for patients not hospitalized due to COVID-19 and with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within seven days of symptom onset in patients at risk of progression to severe disease.

Mass Senior Care has been informed by DPH that there will be a subsequent revision to the Update to Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency guidance that was released today.

The DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m, DPH released revised Update to Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Response guidance, today the DPH released additional information about the Skilled Nursing Facility Short-Term Rehab Temporary Program and the list of skilled nursing facilities that are currently participating in this program, and last week, the DPH released Updated Comprehensive PPE Guidance.

Alleviate some of your workforce challenges by training staff and volunteers to become feeding assistants. Overall health is greatly improved when residents are able to maintain good nutrition. AHCA's easy-to-use training manual provides important background information and practical exercises. Topics covered in this timely resource include feeding and hydration techniques, safety and emergency procedures, communication and interpersonal skills, and infection prevention and control.

MassHealth has issued All Provider Bulletin 337, MassHealth Pharmacy Coverage of Over-the-Counter Diagnostic Antigen Tests for SARS-CoV-2 indicating that effective January 14, 2022, the following at-home antigen self-test kits have been added to the MassHealth Non-Drug Product List and will be covered through the MassHealth pharmacy benefit.

DPH has released an updated REDCap link through which long-term care facilities submit Chapter 93 data to the Department, and free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests available to all residents through a new web-based ordering platform.

The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, January 27, 2022, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). Registration is not required but participants should dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time. The following will be discussed during the call: PBJ Reminder Policy Questions should be sent to NHStaffing@cms.hhs.gov Technical Issues/Questions should be sent to iqies@cms.hhs.gov PBJ Website: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Ins… Public Reporting Updates on the January 2022 Refresh

Under M.G.L. c. 111, § 53B and M.G.L. c. 111, § 203, all health care facilities, clinics, and nursing homes are required to submit a Health Care Facility Disciplinary Action Annual Summary Report (“HCFD-3”) to the Data Repository Unit (“DRU”) of the Board of Registration in Medicine (“the Board”) each year. The DRU is part of the Board’s Legal Unit and processes all statutory reports sent to the Board from mandated reporters. The HCFD-3 form should include all disciplinary actions

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to announce we are planning to host our Spring Conference & Trade in person on Tuesday, May 3rd at the DCU Center in Worcester and will be adhering to all applicable safety protocols.

The deadline to submit all applications to AHCA is by 8 p.m. EST next Thursday, January 27.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration that a public health emergency (PHE) exists. This is effective January 16, 2022 and will continue for 90 days pursuant to federal law. PHE renewal is through mid-April and provides for the uninterrupted continuation of several flexibilities that have protected beneficiary access to important services in as safe and effective manner as possible.

MassHealth has issued All Provider Bulletin 337, MassHealth Pharmacy Coverage of Over-the-Counter Diagnostic Antigen Tests for SARS-CoV-2.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration that a public health emergency (PHE) exists, and the DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.

DPH released updated Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement which provides additional guidance related to the January 6, 2022, Public Health Order mandating booster vaccines for all eligible personnel in long-term care facilities.

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.

MassHealth has extended the deadline for responses on the agency’s Health Equity Requests for Information (RFIs) to February 4, 2022:

On January 7, 2022, CMS posted QSO memo 22-08-NH indicating it will begin posting staffing turnover and weekend staffing levels for each nursing home on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website​ in January and add the measures to the staffing domain of the Five Star Rating system in July 2022.   

Mass Senior Care is reminding members that MassHealth will issue a one-time supplemental payment to nursing facilities if 75% of the facility’s eligible staff members receive a COVID-19 vaccine third dose or booster dose by January 16, 2022.

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and her leadership team will provide updates​ on the CMS Strategic Vision, key 2021 accomplishments, and 2022 goals.

MassHealth has issued a reminder that Nursing Facility Bulletin 170: HST Brokerage Transportation for Members in Nursing Facilities is now posted to the MassHealth Nursing facility Bulletin website. The link to download the bulletin can be found here: download (mass.gov). 

The Department of Public Health (DPH) in April 2021 adopted revisions to the LTCF licensure regulations that included a provision that facilities must meet a requirement to have no more than 2 beds in a room by April 30, 2022.

The Boston Medical Center is offering free, virtual X-waiver training in January to February and February to March 2022. for all prescribers regardless if they currently prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The training is necessary to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in 30 or more residents. For those who treat fewer than 30 residents, the training is still highly recommended.

EOHHS has issued a Notice Opportunity to Participate in the Care Model Focus Initiative (CMFI) Core Team for the One Care Program. The agency is seeking up to five individuals to participate on the Core Team to examine the Care Model domains associated with the One Care program.

The DPH has provided important reminders for Long-Term Care Facilities on the Reporting of Influenza and Influenza-Like Illness. As in past years, long-term care facilities should report influenza-like illness (ILI) clusters (three cases of ILI in residents), or one lab-confirmed case of influenza in a resident, by faxing a 2019 Teleform to 617-983-6220.

The DPH in April 2021 adopted revisions to the LTCF licensure regulations that included a provision that facilities must meet a requirement to have no more than 2 beds in a room by April 30, 2022. The regulations included a provision allowing facilities unable to fully comply to demonstrate that they have made good faith efforts to try to comply with the regulation by the deadline.

In an ongoing effort to support members with the accuracy of NHSN reporting, Mass Senior Care confirmed that facilities, when completing the Weekly Healthcare Personnel COVID-19 Vaccination Cumulative Summary Question #1, should only include HCP that were eligible to have worked at this healthcare facility for at least 1 day during the week of data collection, and Mass Senior Care is reminding members that MassHealth will issue a one-time supplemental payment to nursing facilities if 75% of the facility’s eligible staff members receive a COVID-19 vaccine third dose or booster dose by January 16, 2022.

Today Governor Baker activated 500 additional members of the Massachusetts National Guard to support the state’s health care system.

The DPH monthly call is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2022, DPH has provided important reminders for Long-Term Care Facilities on the Reporting of Influenza and Influenza-Like Illness, on January 6, 2022, CMS again updated the Nursing Home Visitation FAQs, CMS posted QSO memo 22-08-NH indicating it will begin posting staffing turnover and weekend staffing levels for each nursing home on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website​ in January and add the measures to the staffing domain of the Five Star Rating system in July 2022, and the CDC Recommends Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster at 5 Months.

In order to create bed availability for individuals who need nursing facility level of care and better utilize SNF resources, EOHHS and DPH is announcing a temporary program that adds short-term rehabilitation capacity in all regions of Massachusetts, Mass Senior Care asked the state for an immediate increase in the allocation of BinaxNOW test kits to nursing facilities, and MassHealth has issued a reminder that Nursing Facility Bulletin 170: HST Brokerage Transportation for Members in Nursing Facilities is now posted to the MassHealth Nursing facility Bulletin website.

Members are provided updates on the Public Health Emergency Order for COVID-19 booster vaccination, Implementation of Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Control of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities, Long-Term Care visitation guidance, and an announcement for skilled nursing facilities for short-term rehabilitation capacity.

On December 30, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the United States Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, in partnership with AHCA/NCAL, Leading Age and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), hosted a virtual forum to discuss the importance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to protect residents, staff and their loved ones from COVID-19, and MassHealth today informed nursing facilities of new temporary (1) Clinical Eligibility and (2) PASRR Flexibilities to assist patient flow from acute hospitals to nursing facilities.