E-News Update Articles

Putting Patients First Law Effective January 1, 2025: Are You Ready? Attend this Webinar and Receive the MSCA Putting Patients First Law Toolkit Wednesday, October 24, 2024 1:00pm – 2:00pm Via Zoom

CMS has issued Medicare billing guidance regarding the FDA-approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024–2025 season.

Effective September 30, 2024, facilities will need to report respiratory pathogen vaccination, case, and hospitalization data using a newly combined reporting form.

A recent webinar hosted by AHCA/NCAL with Incite Strategic Partners, Beyond Savings – What You Should be Getting from Your GPO, features information on up-front savings, industry expertise, workforce recruiting and retention resources, and ongoing recommendations which can be tailored to your specific needs.

Employing Work Authorized New Immigrants: Incentives & Supports Exclusive Complimentary Webinar for Mass Senior Care Facility and Corporate Members Only October 16, 2024 10:00 am – 11:00am Zoom Webinar Presented in Partnership with the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development

2024 AHCA/NCAL Convention in Orlando & 2024 AHCA/NCAL Bronze Quality Award Workshop

EOEA will host a webinar on October 8 at 3:30 pm to update stakeholders on the status of the Massachusetts transition from MOLST to POLST.

Register now for Reporting: LTCF Respiratory Pathogens Module: Updates to Resident Data Collection Form and Up to Date Definition for Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting for Healthcare Personnel and Residents; and NHSN Person-Level Vaccination Forms: Quarter 4 2024 Updates for Long-Term Care Facilities

AHCA/NCAL has released a new resource to assist providers in developing their Facility Assessment in compliance with the requirements at 42 CFR 483.71. The latest addition is the Recruitment and Retention template, available to AHCA/NCAL members through the Strengthening Facility Assessments to Adapt to Regulatory Changes webinar on ahcancalED.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to offer Associate Members sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor booths for the upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA.

Member Update: New AHCA LTC Facility Assessment Recruitment and Retention Tool Now Available; Up-to-Date Definition Changes for NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting; New Combined Respiratory Pathogen Reporting Form for Residents; NHSN Webinars

Where Safety Meets Standards: Join DPH and MSCA for the Annual Life Safety Code In-Person Workshop! Tuesday, October 22, 2024 9:00 am – 12:00 pm enVision Hotel & Conference Center Mansfield-Foxboro 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048

Member Update: Mandatory Provider Enrollment Off-Cycle Revalidation for ALL SNFs; IntelyCare Cuts Jobs For Third time in 14 Months; Where Safety Meets Standards: Join DPH and MSCA for the Annual Life Safety Code In-Person Workshop!

Member Update: EOHHS Issues Notice of Proposed Agency Action on Rate Year 2025 Medicaid Nursing Facility Rates; Honoring Choices Resource - Who is Your Health Care Agent?; MOLST to POLST Transition Update

Member Update: Massachusetts Tax Amnesty Program From November 1 to December 30, 2024; Upcoming NHSN Webinars

On July 19, 2024, the final OSHA rule updating the Hazard Communication Standard (Haz-Com Standard) became effective.

The Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) Quality Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual Version 6.0 and accompanying documents are now available.

The Massachusetts electronic death registration system (MAVRIC) has been postponed until November 18th.

Member Update: CLARIFICATION - Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure; Register Now for MSCA Webinar: Mastering Sepsis – Key Diagnosis and Management Tips

Member Update: 2024-2025 Respiratory Virus Season Updates for LTC Providers Today!; MassHealth Acute Hospital Rates for Rate Year 2025 and Steward Hospital Financing Update; Health Care Capacity Dashboard

Member Update: Long-Term Care Providers Must Comply with ePrescribing Requirements effective January 1, 2025

On September 10th, DPH released updated guidance on Respiratory Illness Vaccination for Admitted Patients.

Happy National Assisted Living Week! This annual observance provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding comm​​unities to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Register Now: Mastering Sepsis – Key Diagnosis and Management Tips​ Tuesday, September 24, 2024​ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm ​ Zoom Webinar

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.

Last week, Governor Maura Healey signed into law H5033, An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care - The Long Term Care Reform law. To help ensure access to quality nursing facility care for individuals who can no longer live safely at home, this comprehensive, historic legislation will have a profound impact on the provision of care.

AHCA/NCAL Webinar featuring Incite Strategic Partners: "Beyond Savings – What You Should be Getting from Your GPO" Tuesday, September 24 at 1:00pm EDT Register here. 2024 AHCA/NCAL Convention in Orlando October 6-9 in Orlando, FL Register here. MSCA Life Safety Code In-Person Workshop Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 9:00am – 12:00pm at the enVision Hotel Mansfield-Foxboro Register here. 2024 AHCA/NCAL Bronze Quality Award Workshop Part 1: November 6 | 2:00 – 4:00pm ET; Part 2: November 13 | 2:00 –

AHCA/NCAL announced its 2024-2025 #GetVaccinated toolkit for providers, in preparation for the respiratory virus season this fall and winter. Additionally, AHCA/NCAL is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) new national campaign—Risk Less. Do More. (RiskLessDoMore.hhs.gov)—to raise awareness of the latest vaccines for influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

On September 10th, DPH released updated Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure. The guidance aligns with the current CDC recommendations and provides further clarification on isolation and uses a symptom-based approach to isolation and return to work rather than a 5-day period after a positive COVID-19 test for symptomatic health care personnel (HCP).

Member Update: Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure; Respiratory Illness Vaccination of Admitted Patients

Member Update: Register Now for MSCA Webinar: Mastering Sepsis – Key Diagnosis and Management Tips; Massachusetts Electronic Death Registration System (MAVRIC) Launch Postponed

Member Update: CHIA Nursing Facility Industry Transparency Modernization: Upcoming Preview of Nursing Facility Data; 2023-2024 Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Data; EOHHS Announces Selection of One Care Plans and SCO Plans for 2026

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: Governor Healey Signs Into Law the Long-Term Care Reform Bill Date: September 6, 2024 Governor Maura Healey today signed into law H5033, An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care - The Long Term Care Reform law. To help ensure access to quality nursing facility care for individuals who can no longer live safely at home, this comprehensive, historic legislation will have a profound impact on

The Mass Chapter of ACHCA invites all practicing administrators to attend their listening session, Echoes from Administrators virtually on Thursday, September 26th at 12:15pm for 75 minutes. This session will focus on HCFRS reporting.

As part of the Office of State Auditor’s statutory oversight of the Medicaid program, Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has issued a performance audit of MassHealth’s payments for telehealth adult foster care (AFC) and group adult foster care (GAFC) services to determine whether MassHealth monitored telehealth practices for AFC and GAFC services to ensure compliance with its regulations.

The CDC will host a call on Monday, September 16th, 2024, at 1:00 pm EDT for an overview of the latest respiratory virus vaccination recommendations, testing and treatment guidance, and infection prevention strategies.

Member Update: Legislature Enacts and Sends to Governor Healey the Omnibus Long-Term Care Reform Bill; REMINDER: Test Kits for COVID-19 Outbreaks; REMINDER: MassHealth Announces Important Change in LTC Eligibility Verification Timelines – Will Return to 30 Days Beginning September 2024

On August 22, 2024, the FDA approved and granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for updated COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula). The vaccines have been updated to more closely target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.

South Cove Manor at Quincy Point hosted an Appreciation Day on Friday, August 23, 2024, to express gratitude and recognize the invaluable contributions of local emergency responders who tirelessly work to keep the South Cove Manor community safe.

The new MAVRIC electronic death registration system will go live on Monday, September 30, 2024. The last day to start a new death record in the current VIP system is Sunday, September 29, 2024.

Mass Senior Care congratulates Brandon Woods of Dartmouth, part of Essex Group Management, for being named this year's Best Rehabilitation Facility by SouthCoast Community Choice Awards.

Mass Senior Care Annual Life Safety Code Workshop Tuesday, October 22, 2024 9:00am – 12:00pm enVision Hotel Mansfield-Foxboro

Over the past month, Massachusetts nursing facilities have seen an uptick in resident COVID-19 cases per CDC NHSN data. Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff.

Member Update: Legislative Negotiators Reach Agreement in Principle on Long Term Care Omnibus Reform Bill; Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell Announces Settlements with 2 Temporary Nurse Staffing Agencies

Member Update: EOHHS Issues DCC-Q Report for RY24 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024); Updated COVID-19 Vaccines; Healthcare Interpretations Task Force (HITF) Addresses Several Life Safety Issues

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on September 12th at 10 am for the monthly health care provider cybersecurity call.

As the respiratory virus season nears, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has introduced the "Risk Less. Do More." campaign. This nationwide initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination against flu, COVID-19, and RSV, particularly for those at higher risk, including older adults and long-term care residents.

The 2025 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Intent to Apply (ITA) period is now open! AHCA encourages applicants who plan to apply for a 2025 Quality Award to submit an ITA by logging into the Quality Award Portal before the deadline on November 14, 2024.

Member Update: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting

MassHealth has announced the formation of a new MassHealth Member Advisory Committee (MAC) to provide advice to MassHealth on topics related to policy development and program implementation to improve quality and access to care for MassHealth members.