E-News Update Articles

Last Thursday, the Baker Administration and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) released the Nursing Facility Accountability and Supports Package 2.0 which includes up to $142 million for quality nursing home care, covering (1) a new integrated rate structure for the Rate Year 2021 rate and beyond, and (2) targeted COVID-19 Supplemental Funding. The EOHHS proposal builds upon prior Accountability and Supports programs designed to promote and ensure high quality nursing home care.

Save $200 When You Register a Second AHCA/NCAL Member. Offer expires on September 18, 2020 at 11:59 PM, ET.

Provides updates to visitation conditions, communal dining and congregate activities in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 outbreak, a DPH weekly call reminder, and an invitation to register for webinars to help prepare for COVID-19 surge.

Informs members about AHCA/NCAL investigation of reported false positives in COVID-19 testing: survey and resources, DPH isolation and quarantine caution signs, and the update to Paid Leave of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

A reminder to members that the CMS COVID-19 Focused Surveys now include requirements for F886 Testing of Nursing Home Staff and Residents and information on a CMS COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet.

If you are a private pay or Medicaid-certified assisted living/memory care community, ensure that you apply for the HHS Phase 2 General Distribution round of Provider Relief Funds. HHS announced last week that private pay AL operators are eligible to apply. Non-SNF Medicaid providers are also eligible. ​Note that the deadline for the application is this Sunday, September 13 and we do not expect this deadline to be extended. Like other providers applying for Phase 2 funding, eligible assisted living

EOHHS today issued an email note indicating the Final Filing webform for the Nursing Facility COVID-19 Supplemental Payment is now online and available for filing.

Mass Senior Care Association is transitioning to virtual education sessions and is pleased to offer programming on three relevant topics during the month of September.

An invitation to join AHCA webinar today on CMS COVID-19 Performance Payment Program and the CMS National Nursing Home COVID-19 Call tonight.

Shares link to AHCA webinar recording, discusses CMS new county COVID-19 positive test rates and reminds members about DPH and CMS calls.

The focus of today's memo is on HHS $2 billion quality incentive program for nursing homes, CMS new county COVID-19 test positivity rates, and offers an additional option for COVID-19 testing.

Mass Senior Care’s original PDPM 6 Months Later: The Massachusetts Experience in person seminar was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2020/2021 awards. The scholarships will assist long term care staff in meeting their personal and professional goals through furthering their education. Scholarships from $500 to $2,000 will be awarded to selected applicants to cover direct, out of pocket expenses for tuition, fees, books, and supplies incurred during the period July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Applicants must be currently employed by a Massachusetts Senior Care Association member nursing

The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) today informed nursing facilities that the due date for the 2019 HCF-1 (nursing facility), the new REA-CR (the realty company) and the MGT-CR (management company/central office) cost reports deployed on June 29, 2020 are now due on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.

The Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and managed in partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and Riverside Trauma Center, a program of Riverside Community Care.

Provides updates on HHS Funding Allocation for Private Pay Assisted Living, Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Tests to be Delivered to ALRs, CDC Updates on NHSN Module to Include POC Testing Questions, CDC Considerations for Use of SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing in Nursing Homes

This update reminds members that CMS' new COVID-19 testing requirements are effective tomorrow, September 2, 2020, discusses DHHS updated guidance on the Infection Control Provider Relief Fund Distribution, the AHCA recorded webinar on testing requirements and provides a reminder about the next DPH weekly call.

EOHHS today issued an email note indicating the Final Filing webform for the Nursing Facility COVID-19 Supplemental Payment will be online and available the week of September 7. In the email, EOHHS included an (1) Accounting Form EXCEL Template, (2) Updated COVID 19 Supplemental Funding Final Filing Form Instructions and (3) Updated Draft Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Provides information on DPH updates to LTC surveillance testing guidance, CMS launch of a national training program, CMS issue of Two QSO memos on staff testing and CLIA reporting requirements and the AHCA member webinar tomorrow on CMS testing requirements.

Discusses CMS new reporting and testing requirements as well as the release of new infection control and training programs for nursing homes.

The memo discusses an important CMS announcement today at 4:30 PM Eastern and provides reminders about the weekly DPH and CMS COVID-19 Calls.

Mass Senior Care hosted a webinar on August 24, 2020 titled, Preparing for CHIA’s Final Financial Report and Federal Single-Audit Requirements. To help nursing facilities combat COVID-19, the state and federal government have provided a number of new funding resources. The new funding comes with different accounting reporting and regulations that will impact financial presentation of these items. The goal of this presentation is to walk through those funding sources as well as reporting changes focused on the following areas

The update highlights CMS Antigen Point of Care Testing Devices and invites Mass Senior Care Association members to register for a Financial Report webinar.

As part of CMS recently announced $5 billion investment package for skilled nursing facility, $250 million of this funding will be allocated for the National Nursing Home COVID-19 Safety Program led by Project ECHO. The MSCA/HSL Command Center is participating in this CMS funded initiative by establishing local learning hubs. Nursing facilities interested in participating can enroll by completing the enclosed participation form.

Mass Senior Care Association invites members to join us and CLA for a timely, complimentary webinar on Monday, August 24, 2020 from 11:00 am to 12:00pm. The goal of this presentation is to prepare members for CHIA’s Final Financial Report and Federal single-audit requirements.

Addresses Enrollment Open for National Nursing Home COVID-19 Safety Program, NHSN Updates Instructions and Adds Testing Questions and the CMS-CDC Fundamentals Webinar Series.

Provides clarification on the Update July Surveillance Testing “Pending” Results by Friday and a correction that there is no need to re-submit in the RedCap portal.

Discusses information regarding Update Surveillance Testing “Pending” Results by Friday - Required for EOHHS Payments, CMS to Return to Normal Survey Process and the DPH Weekly Call Reminder.

This memo includes COVID-19 updates on August Update for Surveillance Testing Guidance; Changes to REDCap Portal; DPH Updates Visitation Guidance and Important Reports to Review.

The National Quality Award Program is pleased to announce that the 2021 application packets are now available online. Please visit the Bronze, Silver, or Gold application pages to download your respective award level application materials and to learn how your center should begin preparing.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Releases Updated Testing Guidance; National CMS/CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Date: August 13, 2020 DPH Releases Updated Testing Guidance On August 7, the DPH released updated Testing Guidance. The updated guidance includes recommendations on the use of antigen testing as well as revisions to testing of previously positive individuals cleared from isolation. National CMS/CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Topic: Transparency: Resident and Family Notification, Department

CMS has indicated that the use of the renewed Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131 form with the expiration date of 06/30/2023 will be mandatory on 8/31/2020. However, CMS just announced that due to COVID-19 concerns, CMS has extended the deadline for use of the renewed ABN, Form CMS-R-131 (exp. 6/30/2023).

The Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2020/2021 awards. The scholarships will assist long term care staff in meeting their personal and professional goals through furthering their education. Apply for a Foundation scholarship today!

Over the course of the past several months, Mass Senior Care has been the recipient of donated items from both Amazon and Gillette, including Amazon Fire Tablets and Gillette Treo Razors. If your facility is interested in receiving either a tablet or a supply of the razors, please send an email to lnguyen@maseniorcare.org.

The CDC will provide updates to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the 2020-2021 influenza vaccination season. Topics will include the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice, flu vaccination planning, general vaccination guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and guidance for large vaccination clinics held in satellite, temporary, or off-site locations.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. The data contained within the Preview Reports is based on quality data submitted by SNFs between Q1 2019 – Q4 2019 and Q4 2017 and Q3 2019. The data reflects what will be published on Nursing Home Compare during the October 2020 refresh of the website. Providers have until August 30, 2020 to review their performance data.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates: Weekly Call Reminders Date: August 11, 2020 DPH Weekly Call Reminder The next weekly call with providers is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. These calls will include members of DPH’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, and Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management. This call is intended for long-term care facilities caring for

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: REDCap Reporting Deadline Today; HHS Provider Relief Funds for Nursing Homes; Nursing Facility Surveillance Testing Providers Date: August 10, 2020 Deadline Today: REDCap/Chapter 93 Reporting Please note the deadline for the REDCap/Chapter 93 reporting is today, August 10th at 11:59 p.m. On July 29th, DPH issued a new link to the REDCap reporting system ( https://redcap.link/Chapter93ElderFacilitiesV2) and an updated user’s guide. The recommended web browser for

Twenty-four Mass Senior Care member facilities received the 2020 Bronze – Commitment to Quality and one member received the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program provides a pathway for providers of long term and post-acute care services to journey towards performance excellence. The program is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program.

On July 31, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) governing Medicare rates for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2021 (October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021). CMS projects that aggregate Medicare program payments to SNFs will increase by 2.2 percent, for FY 2021 compared to FY 2020.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a 4-page SNF COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet. This tip sheet is designed to assist Skill Nursing Facility (SNF) providers in understanding the status of the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).

An op-ed, “The coronavirus quarantine problem for travelers and nursing homes,” authored by Simon Johnson, Dr. Sanjat Kanjilal, and Dr. Larissa Lucas was published in The Boston Globe this week. The authors of the op-ed continue to work closely with Mass Senior Care on a number of strategies and policies related to infection control, testing and PPE procurement.

Fourth quarter FY 2019 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs) are available for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). These reports summarize provider-specific data statistics for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper payments.

HealthPRO Heritage, Mass Senior Care’s Clinical Quality Leader will be having a timely discussion to uncovers best practices for leveraging 1135 waivers. Key takeaways to include tactical and strategic considerations to drive your community's financial & clinical outcomes.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: PBJ Reporting: Staffing Data Can Include Hours Provided by State Clinical Swat Teams; REDCap Link for Survey and Additional Questions; New Participant Code for Tomorrow’s DPH Call Date: August 4, 2020 Payroll Based Journal Reporting: Staffing Data from National Guard Can Be Input In June, CMS ended the blanket waiver of the requirement for nursing homes to submit staffing data through the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) System

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Extends Deadline for Reporting of Historical Data; DPH Updates Memo on Defining Aerosol Generating Procedures and Recommended PPE; Reminder for Weekly DPH Call; HHS Announces Three New Approaches to Securing Funding Date: August 4, 2020 DPH Extends Deadline for Reporting of Historical Data In response to a request by Mass Senior Care Association, yesterday the DPH released the following information regarding an extension of the

Thomas Lavallee, Chief Operating Officer of Alliance Health Management Services, LLC and the Chair of Mass Senior Care Association, authored an op-ed, Mass. Nursing Homes Need a Permanent Fix, which was published in Commonwealth Magazine calling for a new model for long-term care, one which prioritizes high quality and high standards for nursing home residents and caregivers.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives adopted two nursing home amendments to HB 4888, An Act to Promote Resilience in our Health Care System. Passage of Amendment #20 and Amendment #70 would help to provide critical tools and resources for nursing facilities to protect their residents and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Releases Revised Guidance Date: July 30, 2020 DPH Releases Revised Guidance on “Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency” and “Allowing Non-Essential Personnel in Long-Term Care Facilities” Today, DPH released two memos related to care of long-term care residents during the COVID-19 Emergency. Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency includes revisions to screening of employees upon re-entry to the building

The Department of Health and Humans Services recently announced that health care providers who received more than $750,000 in federal awards from the Provider Relief Funds (PRF) will be subject to a single audit or a program specific audit.