E-News Update Articles

The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the October 2024 refresh.

The two-year 2023-2024 legislative session is nearing the end of its formal session, which is set for July 31st. While legislation can be adopted after that date, under current rules it is much more difficult to do so if not enacted prior to this deadline. Over the next two weeks, there are 12 major bills that are under active review by both chambers, including the following four that have major implications for the nursing facility sector.

Member Update: MOLST to POLST Transition Quarterly Update Call; Facility Assessment Resources

AHCA/NCAL has been laser-focused on defeating the minimum staffing rule. In June, more than 600 AHCA/NCAL members went to DC for Congressional Briefing and visited more than 275 Congressional offices advocating against the minimum staffing rule. It is important lean into this advocacy momentum and continue the fight through facility & community tours.

On Wednesday, June 26th, CMS posted an unpublished version of the Proposed Rule: Calendar Year 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Quality Reporting Program Requirements; etc. to the Federal Register.

On July 2, DPH released a memo on Candida auris and Carbapenemase-producing Organism Surveillance Activity in the Commonwealth.

Member Update: EOHHS Issues Request for Applications (RFA) for Nursing Facility Specialized Behavioral Unit; 2024 DCC-Q Online Portal Now Available for Data Entry; Nursing Home Compare Changes Take Effect July 31st

Member Updates: EOHHS through UMASS Issues RY24 DCC-Q FINAL Filing Update; Temporary Protected Status Extended for Haitian Immigrants; July 2024 Health Care Provider Cybersecurity Call

Member Update: House of Representatives Passes Economic Development Bond Bill: Includes $50 Million Authorization for Nursing Facility Capital Loan Program; US Supreme Court Reverses Chevron Decision: Curtails Federal Regulatory Agencies’ Ability to Interpret Laws

On June 18, 2024 CMS released the revised guidance for the Long-term Care Facility Assessment regulation (QSO-24-13-NH), as part of the federal staffing mandate. The revision to the facility assessment regulation at F838 takes effect and must be implemented by August 8, 2024.

Member Update: Facility Assessment Resources

The DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness after the expiration of the PHE. Health care facilities must continue to identify and monitor respiratory illness metrics to indicate when there are increased levels which may necessitate implementing additional infection control measures. One possible metric is the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Wastewater COVID-19 Tracking which measures the SARS-CoV2 levels.

The DPH and Mass Senior Care continue to encourage nursing facilities to vaccinate residents and staff with the most up to date COVID-19 vaccine.

These additional on-site dialysis centers will have a positive impact on residents who require this life-saving care and who will no longer have to travel offsite multiple days per week.

Member Update: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; COVID-19 Reporting Requirements; IRS Will Extend Moratorium on Processing Employee Retention Credit Claims Filed After September 14, 2023

Mass Senior Care facility members gathered earlier this week for the two-day MSCA Leadership Summit, Charting A New Course: Identifying Opportunities to Improve the Survey Experience and Outcomes, at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Nurse Aide Registry Services (NARS), through its testing vendor, D&S Diversified Technologies – HEADMASTER (“D&S”), will begin offering the nurse aide certification exam in Spanish and Chinese, in addition to English, starting July 1, 2024.

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.

Mass Senior Care will once again be offering AHCA/NCAL Quality Award workshops to help members better understand how to complete the application from beginning to end with coaching support along the way from expert trainers.

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released the 2024 Silver Quality Award toolkit for recipients. It is now available on the Quality Award website.

Antipsychotic medications remain an area of high focus for CMS as well as the state with MassHealth audits being performed by Optum beginning this month.

Member Update: CMS Releases Revised Guidance for the Long-Term Care Facility Assessment Regulation; New Rules from the Office of Civil Rights

Member Update: Nurse Aide Certification Exams Available in Spanish and Chinese Starting in July

Mass Senior Care is offering Certificates of Appreciation to distribute to your CNAs during National Certified Nursing Assistants Week (June 13-19, 2024).

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to recognize our member CNAs who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of care and quality of life of their residents.

In response to an increase in private equity involvement in financing health care, magnified by the Steward Healthcare situation, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on June 11, 2024 filed the Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act.

Member Update: MassHealth Issues Nursing Facility Bulletin 186: Updates to Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR); Applications Open for CNA to LPN Career Ladder Program

Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports for the FY 2025 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program (SNF VBP) are now available for download from iQIES.

In April 2024, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a new law establishing a 9-month limit on a family’s eligibility for emergency assistance (EA) shelter, with opportunities for extensions if they qualify. On June 12th, guidance was issued by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to establish procedures implementing the 9-month limit on EA eligibility, including criteria that will be used to determine whether a family qualifies for an extension.

Member Update: Mass AG Campbell Announces $4 Million Settlement with Nursing Facility Company; Vast Majority of Massachusetts Nursing Facilities Do Not Qualify for Hardship Exemptions to CMS Minimum Staffing Rule; Healey Administration Issues Grants for Hospital to Home Partnership; Final Chance to Register for Tomorrow’s Webinar

CMS has posted the draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.19.1. The MDS 3.0 RAI User's Manual v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 1, 2024.

This week, Mass Senior Care members and staff traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living’s (AHCA/NCAL) Congressional Briefing and meet with members of the Massachusetts Delegation.

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

Legislative leadership has appointed the 6-member FY2025 Budget Conference members to reconcile differences between the branches’ separate recommendations.

This year, National Certified Nursing Assistants Week is from June 13th to June 19th, 2024. Mass Senior Care is offering Certificates of Appreciation to distribute to your CNAs during National Certified Nursing Assistants Week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) in Nursing Homes.

Member Update: Guidance for Nursing Practice by Graduates and Students in Their Last Semester of Nursing Education Programs; MassHealth Issues Memo Updating Submission Process to Request a Hardship Waiver; Register Now for June 11th Webinar

Member Update: MassHealth to Audit Nursing Facilities for Antipsychotic Medication Use

Effective May 31, 2024, all applicants for nursing licensure and advanced practice authorization, including renewal applications, will be required to attest as to whether they have a history of supported findings of abuse or neglect with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

MSCA Member Facility, Notre Dame Health Care, recently announced Philip Hickey, MBA, MHA, MLNHA as their new President and Chief Executive Officer. He has nearly 40 years of leadership experience in the healthcare field including many years of service in non-profit post-acute care, long term care, memory care, assisted living and independent living communities.

Mass Senior Care Facility Members are invited to join us at our 2024 Leadership Summit, Charting A New Course: Identifying Opportunities to Improve the Survey Experience and Outcomes, on June 17th & 18th at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester. We are also pleased to offer Associate Members a limited number of sponsorship opportunities - you do not want to miss the opportunity to attend this exclusive event!

On May 28, Provider Magazine released an article on Establishing a Bariatric Unit in a Post-Acute Setting. The article identifies areas for consideration for bariatric units in nursing facilities including equipment, an assessment of the built environment as well as staffing.

Join MHA and healthcare leaders to explore insights on post-acute care, optimizing care for special populations, transitions in home care, end-of-life care, and enhancing patient quality of life.

Today, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced the names of the 2024 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award recipients. A total of eight Massachusetts skilled nursing facilities earned a Bronze Award. We are proud to report that all these facilities are Mass Senior Care members!

Member Update: MassHealth Updates Worksheet to MDS Data Level of Care (LOC) Request Process for Billing; Register Now for June 11th Webinar: Implementing the Revised Facility Assessment Requirements

Member Update: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting Tomorrow; Register Now for Two Important Webinars on Stopping Your CMS Five-Star Rating from Falling and Implementing the Revised Facility Assessment Requirements

The DPH and Mass Senior Care continue to encourage nursing facilities to vaccinate residents and staff with the most up to date COVID-19 vaccine.

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.19.1 and Item Matrix are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS Item Sets v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 01, 2024.

MSCA member facilities across the state celebrated National Skilled Nursing Care Week last week, engaging residents in many lively and nostalgic activities!

AHCA Hosts Enhanced Barrier Precautions Open Office Hour with the CDC Wednesday June 5, 2024 2:00pm EST