E-News Update Articles

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.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Legislature Approves 3-Month State Budget; Clarification on Outdoor Visitation Date: July 29, 2020 Legislature Approves 3-Month State Budget through October 31 st and Proposes to Extend the Formal Session The Legislature has enacted and sent to the Governor an interim $16.5 billion budget that will keep state government funded through the end of October. Mass Senior Care continues to work aggressively with lawmakers and the Baker

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Updated FAQs on Baseline and Surveillance Testing and OIG Updates Workplans to Include Covid-19 in Nursing Homes Date: July 29, 2020 EOHHS Releases Updated FAQs on Baseline and Surveillance Testing EOHHS has released updated FAQs related to baseline and surveillance testing of staff. FAQ #20 relates specifically to the surveillance testing schedule facilities should use if there are delays in baseline staff testing results. Office of

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Reporting Deadline Extended to August 5 th ; Free Testing Now Available in Eight Additional Communities; Weekly DPH Call Reminder Date: July 27, 2020 DPH Retrospective Reporting Deadline Extended to August 5th Due to technical issues that have occurred with the REDCap reporting system over the last week, the DPH is extending the deadline for retrospective reporting to Wednesday, August 5th for nursing homes, rest

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Public Health Emergency Extended; CMS Releases FAQ for POC Testing Instrument; Governor Baker Issues Travel Order Date: July 24, 2020 Public Health Emergency Extended Yesterday, HHS formally extended the COVID-19 pandemic Public Health Emergency for another 90 days. The extension ensures that the COVID-19 related regulatory and reimbursement blanket waivers are extended. This includes waivers of staff training requirements, the 3-day stay and spell of illness

In case you missed it, Thomas Lavallee, Chief Operating Officer of Alliance Health Management Services, LLC and the Chair of Mass Senior Care Association, authored the following op-ed that was published in today's 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.

CMS announced a targeted approach to provide additional resources to nursing homes in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) hotspot areas.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday evening announced it will be sending $5 billion of the Provider Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to Medicare-certified long term care facilities and state veterans’ homes (“nursing homes”), to build nursing home skills and enhance nursing homes’ response to COVID-19, including enhanced infection control. This funding could be used to address critical needs in nursing homes including hiring additional staff, implementing infection control “mentorship” programs with subject matter experts, increasing testing, and providing additional services, such as technology so residents can connect with their families if they are not able to visit. To qualify for the funding, nursing homes must participate in an online program focused on infection control and best practices. CMS and HHS are still working on the methodology for distribution of these funds. The agencies have made clear that their priorities are testing, funding for staffing costs and to address facilities in COVID-19 hotspots. We will provide more details on the funding distribution as they become available.

Through a collaboration with Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Massachusetts Senior Care Association received a generous donation of face shields produced by Applied Materials and the Gloucester Education Foundation.

The FY20 MassHealth Direct Care Webform is now operational. The URL is https://www.uenter.org/nf/. The due date for filing the report is Friday, July 31, 2020.

The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) has scheduled a webinar regarding the new electronic nursing facility Realty Company Cost Report, now called the REA-CR, that you will be using for the first time to file your 2019 realty company cost reports. In this webinar, CHIA will discuss the changes and new functionality available to you as you complete and file this new electronic cost report.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: HHS to Provide $5 Billion of Provider Relief Funds for Long Term Care Facilities Date: July 22, 2020 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will devote $5 billion of the Provider Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to Medicare-certified long term care facilities and state veterans’ homes (“nursing homes”), to build nursing home skills and enhance

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DHHS Releases Preliminary Reporting Guidance; Reporting Technical Issues with REDCap Reporting; NF Testing Providers; National CMS/CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Date: July 22, 2020 DHHS Releases Preliminary Provider Relief Fund Reporting Guidance On July 21, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a framework for more detailed Provider Relief Fund reporting guidance and materials to be released on August 17, 2020. In the

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: CDC Updates; NHSN Updates Instructions for Completing Supplies and PPE Pathway; Temporary Technical Issues with Data Submission for Chapter 93 Reporting; Weekly DPH and CMS Call Reminders Date: July 21, 2020 CDC Updates Transmission Based Precautions, Duration of Isolation, and Return to Work Criteria On July 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted substantial changes to the transmission-based precautions. As the CDC continues to learn

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates - Testing Partners; CHIA Testing Submission Due Today; Administrator CEU Requirement Waived; Business Compliance Webpage Date: July 20, 2020 Testing Partners – New Option Through ProEMS/The Broad Institute Nursing facilities and long term care facilities may partner or contract with hospitals, community health centers, ambulance/emergency medical services providers, clinical laboratories, or other entities able to provide COVID-19 testing services. In an effort to support members with

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates: Direct Care Add On Webform Now Available; Cases Above Average in Most MA Communities Targeted for Testing; Google Chrome Recommended for Red Cap Reporting Date: July 17, 2020 Direct Care Add On Webform is Now Available – Due Date is Friday, July 31, 2020 The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) today informed nursing home registered users that the FY20 MassHealth Direct Care Webform

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Data Submission Platform – CHIA Webinar PPT Date: July 17, 2020 COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Data Submission Platform – CHIA Webinar PPT CHIA has issued the PowerPoint presentation from its July 16th webinar on how a nursing facility reports its baseline and surveillance testing data via the submission tool located here: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5678159/covid-nf-surveillance. The filing is due on July 20th. Additional information about

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, which is issued by SNF and other providers submitting claims for Medicare items and services to beneficiaries in situations where Medicare payment is expected to be denied.

The Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has recently concluded its public hearing and comment period with respect to 458 CMR 2.00.

Through the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosts a weekly webinar series (every Thursday, 4-5 pm ET) to provide training for infection control processes in nursing homes.

In a letter to Health and Human Secretary Alex Azar, Mass Senior Care Association President Tara Gregorio has requested that HHS extend the public health emergency beyond the July 26th expiration date until specific criteria are met.

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released its updated list which reflects all OIG exclusions and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in June 2020. This new file is meant to replace the updated List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) database file available for download last month.

The Trump Administration this week announced that HHS would embark on a one-time procurement of rapid point-of-care testing devices and tests to be distributed to nursing homes in COVID-19 hotspot areas of the United States.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates: CMS Call Today Regarding Point of Care Testing and Summary of Initiative Date: July 15, 2020 TODAY AT 5:30 PM EDT: CMS Call for Nursing Homes CMS Administrator Verma has scheduled a call for all nursing homes today (Wednesday, July 15) at 5:30 pm Eastern. She has some announcements and updates she wants to provide directly to nursing homes regarding their recent announcement on COVID-19 testing

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates: MassMAP Reporting Discontinued; POC Testing; MassHealth Extends NF Coverage for Family Assistance Members; Guidance on Rest Home Surveillance Testing; NHSN LTCF COVID-19 Module Updates; and DPH Weekly Call Reminder Date: July 14, 2020 – Afternoon Edition MassMAP Reporting Discontinued Effective today, the State Command Center and DPH are discontinuing the daily reporting requirement through MassMAP. CMS Announces Point Of Care Testing For Nursing Homes CMS today

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Register Now for CHIA Webinar on Baseline and Surveillance Testing Data Submission Platform; Correction on Guidance for Rest Home Surveillance Testing Date: July 15, 2020 CHIA Submission Tool Now Available The CHIA submission tool for reporting your baseline and surveillance testing is live and available for data entry here: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5678159/covid-nf-surveillance. The full list of questions can be accessed by clicking here. CHIA is hosting a webinar

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates: EOHHS Issues Surveillance Testing FAQ and Request to Complete MSCA Survey Today Date: July 14, 2020 EOHHS Issues Surveillance Testing FAQ Last night EOHHS issued an FAQ for Long Term Care Facility Surveillance Testing which is established in Nursing Facility Bulletin 148 : COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Requirements for Nursing Facilities and the Department of Public Health’s June 30th guidance . The state will provide

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates: MassMAP Reporting Discontinued; MassHealth Extends NF Coverage for Family Assistance Members; Guidance on Rest Home Surveillance Testing; NHSN LTCF COVID-19 Module Updates; DPH Weekly Call Reminder; and POC Testing Date: July 14, 2020 – Afternoon Edition MassMAP Reporting Discontinued Effective today, the State Command Center and DPH are discontinuing the daily reporting requirement through MassMAP. MassHealth Extends NF Coverage for Family Assistance Members MassHealth has issued

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: COVID-19 Updates: EOHHS Issues Surveillance Testing FAQ and Request to Complete MSCA Survey Today Date: July 14, 2020 EOHHS Issues Surveillance Testing FAQ Last night EOHHS issued an FAQ for Long Term Care Facility Surveillance Testing which is established in Nursing Facility Bulletin 148: COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Requirements for Nursing Facilities and the Department of Public Health’s June 30th guidance. The state will provide supplemental payments

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Reminder to TNS Agencies; Testing of Persons with Suspect COVID-19 and Updated Comprehensive PPE Guidance Date: July 13, 2020 EOHHS Sends a Reminder to TNS Agencies Regarding Maximum Rates for Nursing Facilities Effective July 1 st The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) today sent a communication to temporary nursing services agencies with a reminder that the temporary 2-month (May and June) COVID-19 TNS

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: EOHHS Administrative Bulletins Regarding Direct Care Add-On and Surveillance Testing Date: July 10, 2020 EOHHS Issues Administrative Bulletins on (1) Extension of Direct Care Add-On and (2) Surveillance Testing Payment and Reporting Method EOHHS today issued two Administrative Bulletins that (1) extend the direct care rate add on for July 1 st and (2) establish the Supplemental Payment method for Surveillance Testing. Please also note that

The Department of Public Health last week released a memo providing clarifications to long term care visitor policies and establishing guidance on communal dining and outdoor group activities with appropriate precautions (masks, social distancing, etc).

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Data Submission Reporting and User Guide; DPH and CMS Call Reminders Date: July 7, 2020 DPH Issues Data Submission Reporting Memo and User Guide for Chapter 93 of the Acts of 2020 The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued a memorandum and User Guide that provide instructions for how nursing homes and rest homes are to report daily to DPH the number of COVID-19 cases

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous companies and individuals have made generous donations of PPE, computer tablets, technology services and monetary contributions to help support the staff and residents of nursing facilities.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Update: NF Testing Resources; DPH Issues Updated Comprehensive PPE Guidance; Health Care Services; Weekly DPH and CMS Call Reminder Date: July 6, 2020 Nursing Facility Testing Resources The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is requiring that nursing facilities implement a surveillance testing program as of July 1st beginning with a baseline testing of 90% of their staff who previously tested negative. Staff testing must be

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association, including Savoy Nursing and Rehab Center in New Bedford, a 39-bed skilled nursing facility owed by Didie Watsop.

Mass Senior Care urges members to please contact your Member of Congress to support nursing facilities, their residents, and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please ask your Member of Congress to urge Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to provide a special payment to nursing facilities that have and continue to care for COVID-19 patients, many of whom are now recovered.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: EOHHS Message on Surveillance Testing and Governor Baker Announces Offer Free COVID-19 Testing in Select Municipalities Date: July 8, 2020 EOHHS Issues Reminder on Surveillance Testing: Laboratory Samples Long term care facilities are reminded to independently coordinate testing for staff and residents with a testing provider. The state has provided a directory of testing options that facilities may make use of. Facilities should NOT send samples

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President RE: REMINDER: Weekly Reporting Filing Due TODAY (Monday, July 6th) – CHIA Portal Date: July 6, 2020 As part of the MassHealth Phase 2 Funding for COVID-19 which provides up to an additional $130 million (50% increase) in monthly funding for May and June, nursing facilities are required to submit weekly reports to the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) to monitor measures related to staffing levels, COVID-19

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Update: MassHealth Issues COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Requirements for NFs Date: July 3, 2020 MassHealth Issues COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Requirements for NFs (NF Bulletin 148) EOHHS has issued MassHealth Nursing Facility Bulletin 148: COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Requirements for Nursing Facilities . MassHealth is requiring that nursing facilities conduct baseline testing of 90% of their staff who previously tested negative no later than

Updated Preparing for COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, which is issued by SNF and other providers submitting claims for Medicare items and services to beneficiaries in situations where Medicare payment is expected to be denied.

MassHealth announced via an email to Nursing Home Administrators that it will be conducting its mandatory quarterly Nursing Facility Occupancy Survey for the July 1 census date. In the email, MassHealth indicated that the census survey will now be conducted on behalf of MassHealth by the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Update: Updated Guidance Expected to be Released from EOHHS Regarding Outdoor Visitation, Outdoor Congregate Activities and Communal Dining Date: July 2, 2020 Mass Senior Care Association anticipates that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services will issue guidance today or tomorrow to allow, with appropriate precautions (masks, social distancing, etc.) outdoor congregate activities and communal dining. In addition, the guidance for outdoor visits will be amended

CHIA Announces 2019 Cost Reports Are Now Available for Submission

On June 25th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to end the emergency blanket waiver requiring all nursing homes to resume submitting staffing data through the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system by August 14, 2020.

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has announced the availability of an additional $22M in special Emergency Solutions Grant COVID-19 (ESG-CV) Round Two funding to provide medium-term measures to address homelessness.

This week The Berkshire Eagle published an op-ed, “COVID stats don't measure courage, compassion” by William C. Jones, President of Berkshire Healthcare Systems and Past-Chair of the Mass Senior Care Association.