Member Resources

Member Update: Change Healthcare Cyberattack – Nursing Facility Billing

Member Updates: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; Important Reminders: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) Due March 1; RY24 DCC-Q Interim Filing Deadline is March 1; MassHealth SUD Attestation - Signed Form Due March 12; Authorization to allow nursing practice by use Graduate Nurses and Nursing Students expires March 31, 2024

Massachusetts continues to experience COVID-19 cases in long-term care facility residents and staff. Mass Senior Care urges members to remain diligent in the implementation of infection control measures to mitigate the risk of transmission of respiratory virus and COVID-19.

MassHealth has announced the formation of a new MassHealth Member Advisory Committee (MAC) in the summer of 2024.

Per Mass General Laws Chapter 111, section 71C and 105 CMR 150.028 Dementia Special Care Units require 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.

On February 8, CMS MLN Connects newsletter clarified for providers that “…hospice and skilled nursing facility medical directors and administrators are always considered managing employees for Medicare provider enrollment purposes. You must report all current managing employees. If you haven’t reported a medical director or administrator, report them now.”

Director of Nursing Services Leadership Development Program Tuesdays, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/30 And 5/7 3 In-Person and 4 Virtual Sessions, CEUs provided

We urge you to join us on Thursday, March 14th at 11:00am for an interactive webinar with state officials and nursing facility operators who are actively working with local shelters to employ new entrants.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to offer Associate Members sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor booths for the upcoming 2024 Spring Conference & Trade Show on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

This week, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) formally announced the upcoming retirement of its President and CEO Mark Parkinson, effective January 15, 2025.

Member Update: Complimentary Webinar Exclusively for MSCA Members on Connecting with Work Authorized Migrants; Reminder: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) due March 1st; Register Now for Director of Nursing Services Leadership Development Program; Reminder: MassHealth SUD Attestation - Signed Form Due March 12th

Member Update: MassHealth Issues Updated Nursing Facility Rate Add-on Billing Guidance; EOHHS Updates Instructions and Sample Template for RY24 DCC-Q Interim Filing Update

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association.

This Friday, February 16, 2024, is the discount deadline for nursing facility members to save 4% on their MSCA membership renewal if dues are paid in full.

On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed an authorization to continue to allow nursing practice by graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) until March 31, 2024.

Per Mass General Laws Chapter 111, section 71C and 105 CMR 150.028 Dementia Special Care Units require 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.

As previously reported, OSHA has expanded its requirements to electronically submit employee injury data through its Final Rule on Improving Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), along with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain comments from a variety of people about updates to the state’s 2018 Olmstead Plan.

To meet the need for ongoing DNS leadership development and to build future DNS leaders and senior clinical managers, we are pleased to offer this Long Term Care Director of Nursing Services Leadership Development Program exclusively to Mass Senior Care Members.

As lawmakers begin to deliberate on an extremely tight FY2025 state budget, your continued advocacy for Massachusetts Senior Care Association’s FY2025 Budget Proposal is critical to securing the funding necessary to build upon the success of recent investments that have allowed us to increase access to quality resident care and to make modest gains in addressing our workforce crisis, including increasing wages, hiring additional direct care staff, and increasing our occupancy.

Member Update: RY24 DCC-Q Interim Filing Update: Online Portal is Live - Filing Deadline is March 1st; Reminder: Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure (DSCU) due March 1st

Member Update: MassHealth SUD Attestation - Signed Form Due March 12th; REMINDER: Authorization to allow nursing practice by use Graduate Nurses and Nursing Students expires March 31, 2024

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: Member Update: Monthly DPH Provider Call on February 14, 2024 Date: February 9, 2024 The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will be holding a conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, February 14 at 11:00 a.m. If you have any questions for DPH ahead of this meeting, please send your questions to dph.bhcsq@massmail.state.ma.us by Tuesday, February 13. Call-in information:　 Phone Number: 877-688-2596 Participant Code: 3029619

With the transition to PDPM for payment of MassHealth nursing facility claims now into its fourth month, Mass Senior Care is receiving real time data on the new auditing process for these assessments and is offering members the opportunity to learn firsthand from providers who have recently undergone the audit process.

RVRS has updated the timeline for the new electronic death reporting system. The new system is on track for a tentative April 2024 launch of the death certificate module of the Massachusetts Vital Records Information Collaborative (MAVRIC) system.

CMS will temporarily pause distributing Comparative Billing Reports (CBRs) and Program to Evaluate Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs).

Rest Homes have until February 15, 2024, to report health care personnel (HCP) COVID-19 vaccination data.

On January 25, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Request for Information regarding various aspects of the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program for the purpose of increasing transparency.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts yesterday issued a report on MassHealth estate recovery policies comparing Massachusetts’ policies to other states.

Nearly 3,000 people living in the state’s emergency shelter system, many of whom are migrants recently entering Massachusetts, have obtained the work authorizations required for employment.

Member Update: MassHealth Issues Bulletin Implementing Nursing Facility Bariatric Rate Add on; Register Now for Exclusive Members Only MassHealth PDPM Program

Member Update: Reminder: Authorization to allow nursing practice by Graduate Nurses and Nursing Students expires March 31, 2024; Fiscal 2024 Tax Collections Decline Again in January 2024; Exclusive Members Only Program on Recent PDPM Audits; Register Now for Important Webinar on OSHA Expanded Recordkeeping Requirements

Member Update: EOHHS through UMASS Issues RY24 DCC-Q Interim Filing Update: (1) Instructions, (2) Sample Template and (3) FAQ: March 1st Filing Deadline

The DPH is hosting 2023-2024 IDSA LEAP Fellow Dr. Kap Sum Foong, whose project aims to explore penicillin allergies among long-term care residents and strategies for appropriately de-labeling many of these individuals as penicillin allergic.

The next meeting of the Clinical & Regulatory Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 10:00 am – 11:30 am.

Annual updates are available from the Department of Family & Medical Leave (DFML) regarding paid family and medical leave (PFML).

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released materials pertaining to visitation guidance.

Friday, February 16, 2024, is the discount deadline for nursing facility members to save 4% on their MSCA membership renewal if dues are paid in full.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is currently in the process of finalizing the 2024 final rule for ensuring access to home and community-based (HCBS) services.

Per Assisted Living Residences (ALR) regulations, all certified ALRs in Massachusetts must annually report an Annual Aggregate Data Report (AADR) on or before March 1st and a Financial Disclosure Statement within 90 days of the end of the ALR's fiscal year to EOEA.

On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed an authorization to continue to allow nursing practice by graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) until March 31, 2024.

Member Update: Mass Senior Care's Migration to New Customer Relationship Platform Delayed

Member Update: CHIA Issues 2023 Nursing Facility Cost Reports

HealthPRO Heritage is expanding their wellness offerings to seniors throughout the United States through a new relationship with SilverSneakers®, the nation’s leading fitness program for older adults.

Sunny Acres Nursing & Rehab Center recently celebrated the remarkable legacy of Shirley Eaton, and her lifelong dedication to care. Please take a moment to read the featured article in the Lowell Sun about Shirley and this inspiring event.