E-News Update Articles

As a follow up to the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) General Compliance Program Guidelines document (GCPG), OIG in late November 2024 published the updated Nursing Facility Industry Segment Specific Compliance Guidelines (Nursing Facility ICPG). MSCA members should review the Nursing Facility ICPG with special attention on risk areas that are relevant to their operations.

Mass Senior Care is thrilled to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Board Member Sharon Donaghue, Division President of Marquis Health Consulting Services, on her well-deserved induction into the prestigious McKnight’s 2025 Long-Term Care News Hall of Honor. This remarkable honor comes as part of the annual McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards program, which celebrates trailblazing leaders in the long-term care industry.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on Thursday, March 13th at 10am for the monthly health care provider cybersecurity call.

The House last week passed on a party line vote a Republican budget resolution that recommends $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $2 trillion reduction in federal spending over the next decade. The House budget plan directs the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Committee that has jurisdiction over Medicaid and Medicare, to reduce spending by at least $880 billion over the next ten years.

The FDA has announced a recall of Lyons Magnus supplemental shakes manufactured in Fort Wayne, Indiana, due to potential Listeria contamination. Mass Senior Care previously alerted members regarding this concern last week.

The Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE), formerly The Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) has rebranded and updated the following documents: ALR Application; ALR Consumer Guide & Consumer Guide signature page; Residency Agreement Informational Cover Sheet

Member Update: FDA Recall of Supplemental Shakes

Member Update: CHIA Issues 2024 Nursing Facility Cost Report Submission

Member Update: State Legislative FY2026 Budget Hearings Set to Begin; House Passes Budget Blueprint: Medicaid Cuts on The Table; Continued Hospital Capacity Constraints; President Trump Issues Executive Order Reinstating Cost Transparency in Healthcare; Nursing Center Quality Measures Unfrozen, FHCA Analyzes Impact on Provider Star Ratings; REMINDER: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025

Member Update: Outbreak Investigation of Listeria: Frozen Supplemental Shakes; ALR Annual Financial Disclosure Form; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; REMINDER: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025

Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff especially as cases of increased respiratory illnesses are on the rise. At the expiration of the PHE, DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness. Nursing facilities must continue to identify and monitor respiratory illness metrics to indicate when there are increased levels which may necessitate implementing these infection control measures.

National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) is a great time to celebrate all who live and work in nursing facilities. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has deemed this year’s theme "Tapestry of Life.” The national observance will take place from Sunday, May 11 to Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Please call your elected officials and thank them for their dedication to quality nursing facility care, and respectfully urge them to support $280 million in funding to fully implement the resident care and workforce requirements of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024. This landmark law will have a transformative impact on nursing facility care by enhancing transparency and accountability, while also addressing the sector’s ongoing workforce and access challenges.

Member Update: Temporary Protected Status for Haiti Partially Vacated; MassHealth Issues All Provider Bulletin on the Medicaid MMIS and Provider Online Service Center Migration to Amazon Web Services; Register Now for Important Upcoming Webinars

Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Andrea Joy Campbell has joined with Attorneys General from 15 other states to issue multi state guidance concerning diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) employment initiatives.

We look forward to seeing you at our May 14th Spring Conference and Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester where you will have opportunities to participate in educational sessions, network with peers, engage with exhibitors to learn about the latest products and services and earn CEUs.

The U.S. House and U.S. Senate last week took initial steps to achieving budget reconciliation that are expected to rely heaving on large spending cuts to health care programs, including Medicaid, to advance President Trump’s legislative agenda to fund tax cuts and increase defense spending and fund border security.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Jim Divver, a valued member of the MSCA community. Jim’s career was marked by compassion and leadership, as a dedicated administrator of several decades, and an assistant commissioner at DPH. In addition, Jim most recently served as vice-chair of the MA Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators. He will be remembered for his legacy of kindness, service, and unwavering love for his family. For those who wish to pay their respects and learn more, Jim’s obituary can be viewed here.

Member Update: Massachusetts Attorney General Issues Multi State Guidance Concerning DEIA Employment Initiatives; Medicaid Cuts on the Table to Advance Federal Budget Resolution; MassHealth to Hold Two LTSS Provider Informational Webinars on MMIS POSC AWS Migration; Massachusetts Large Building Energy Reporting; REMINDER: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025; RY25 DCC-Q Interim Filing Update: Online Portal is Live for Data Entry - Filing Deadline is March 1st

Member Update: MassHealth Issues Medicaid Pend Tracker; MassHealth Issues Important Update on MMIS/POSX Migration to Amazon Web Services, scheduled for March 14, 2025; Register Now for an Informative Webinar: Implementing Massachusetts’ New Wage Transparency Law: What Employers Need to Know

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Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 111, section 71C and 105 CMR 150.028 Dementia Special Care Units requires all nursing facilities that advertise or hold themselves out to the public as a provider of specialized care to persons with dementia must file a disclosure statement with the Department of Public Health by March 1st each year.

We look forward to seeing you at our May 14th Spring Conference and Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester where you will have opportunities to participate in educational sessions, network with peers, engage with exhibitors to learn about the latest products and services and earn CEUs. Exhibitor and attendee registration will be available soon, please mark your calendar and plan to join us on May 14th!

Member Update: BORN Advisory Ruling Number: 24-02 Invokement of Health Care Proxy by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; Clinical Guidance Update: Influenza Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics will be hosting webinars for pronouncers for pre-enrolling into MAVRIC.

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.

As the Massachusetts Career Ladder Program (CLP) enters into its second year, several changes have been made that makes this first in the nation program to upskill direct care workers to licensed practical nurses (LPNs) more accessible than ever.

EOHHS through UMASS NFReporting has issued three documents for facilities to complete the Rate Year 2025 Interim filing. The deadline for filing the form is March 1st.

Member Update: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) is due March 1st, 2025; RY25 DCC-Q Interim Filing Update: Online Portal is Live - Filing Deadline is March 1st

Member Update: DPH Issues Memorandum for Norovirus Outbreak Prevention and Control Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities

On January 31, 2025, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued guidance to Massachusetts Health Care Providers in regard to the impact of new and anticipated Trump Administration executive orders and federal policies on immigrants who seek healthcare in the Commonwealth.

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On February 3, 2025, the DPH released guidance on Enhancing Surveillance for Human Infections with HPAI H5N1 and Priorities for screening and subtyping of influenza and Pediatric influenza with neurological complications.

The submission deadline for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Programs is approaching.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on Thursday, February 13th at 10am for the monthly health care provider cybersecurity call.

Last week, DPH issued guidance on Long-Term Care Facility Health Care Personnel Vaccination (HCP) for COVID-19 and Influenza.

After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer support the 2023 designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

On February 4, 2025, Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) released guidance for ALRs on reporting requirements required by 651 CMR 12.04(13)(a)(2). The regulations require all Massachusetts certified ALRs to submit an accurate report for the period of January 1st through December 31st, 2024, on or before March 1st, 2025.

Member Update: EOHHS Withdraws Proposed Temporary Nursing Services Regulation; REMINDER: Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Requirement

Member Update: Massachusetts AG Campbell Issues Guidance to Healthcare Providers Regarding Immigration Enforcement and Access to Care and Assistance Programs

Member Update: Immigration Enforcement and Workplace Compliance May Include I-9 Audits by ICE; MassHealth Issues FY25 Interim DCC-Q Filing Update

Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch has been selected to serve on the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee on Oversight within the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.

MassHealth has issued MassHealth Nursing Facility Bulletin 191, Additional member specific criterion required to bill for the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Add-on.

Last week, the Trump Administration issued the following executive orders that have a direct impact on long term and post-acute care providers: Pause on Federal Health Agency Communications; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs; Emergency Preparedness Proposed Rule Withdrawn

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CLA’s annual “What Will Drive the Health Care and Life Sciences Industry in 2025?” white paper was recently published, providing insight into what the CLA team expects to see as a result of a new administration in Washington, an increasing number of merger and acquisition transactions in process and expected, and rapidly evolving technology solutions for how care is given and supported.

Member Update: New Executive Orders Impacting Long Term & Post-Acute Care; MassHealth Issues Nursing Facility Bulletin 19: SUD Rate Add On Billing Clarification; Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch Selected to New House Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee

Member Update: Mass Senior Care Testifies In Opposition to EOHHS Rate Year 2025 Temporary Nursing Services Regulation: Calls for Full Review of Methodology and Corresponding Increase in Medicaid Nursing Facility Rates; CHIA Issues Nursing Facility Industry Profile Report, 2021-2023; Supreme Court Decision Allows Enforcement of Corporate Transparency Law to Go Forward

The Healey administration announced that it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve an Unemployment Insurance Liability that was created during the Baker Administration.

On January 21, the Healy administration announced the closure of the 60-bed Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children located in Canton. The hospital offers medical, rehabilitative, educational, and recreational services for individuals with "severe" physical and cognitive disabilities and other conditions.