Member Resources

We are very pleased to report that EOHHS last Friday officially updated the Rate Year 2023 Medicaid Nursing Facility STANDARD case-mix rates and Medicaid nursing facility regulation to invest an additional $165 million in vital funding for a cumulative total investment of $306 million for Rate Year 2023, for the purpose of investing in our workforce and ensuring access to quality nursing facility care.

After a three year hiatus due to COVID-19, providers and associate members were happy to gather in-person at the Mass Senior Care Foundation’s Annual Fundraising Event held recently at Gore Place in Waltham.

As a reminder, all Massachusetts temporary nursing licenses will expire on December 31, 2022. The US Department of Health & Human Services has launched We Can Do This, a national COVID-19 public education campaign. MassHealth has re-issued the COVID-19 Preparedness Program Payments Bulletin with a technical amendment on the attestation form filing procedure for nursing facilities interested in filing for the incentive payment.

Yesterday, the DPH sent out additional information related to their request to CMS for an extension of the 1135 waiver of the requirements contained in 42 CFR §483.35(d) Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for Massachusetts SNF/NFs.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will be holding a conference call for LTC facilities on Wednesday, December 14 at 11:00 a.m. As a reminder, MassHealth last month issued the COVID-19 Preparedness Program Payments Bulletin specifying the criteria for nursing facilities to qualify for a one-time quality improvement supplemental payment in February 2023. Also, you are invited to join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, and the Massachusetts Senior Care Association for a Roundtable Discussion on Strategies to Increase Bivalent Booster Rates in the Commonwealth’s Assisted Living Residences and Skilled Nursing Facilities.

CMS will host the next open forum on Thursday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m. ET. DPH released an important update regarding COVID-19 Therapeutics. Members are reminded of the October 13, 2022, DPH Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure.

On December 2, 2022 the DPH released revisions to the LTC Surveillance and Outbreak Testing Guidance, and a reminder that all Massachusetts temporary nursing licenses will expire on December 31, 2022.

Mass Senior Care is reminding all nursing facilities that have nurse aides that require testing to meet the December 31, 2022, deadline to get them scheduled as soon as possible.

The Biden Administration announced a 6-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates including a focus on nursing homes. The CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Vaccination Unit is providing a refresher webinar on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. DPH has updated their Paxlovid Treatment Guide as a resource for providers to strongly consider administering it when evaluating COVID-19 patients.

Mass Senior Care reminds members that in accordance with the Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-18 (issued September 30, 2022): All temporary nursing licenses will expire on December 31, 2022. The Biden Administration announced a 6-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates including a focus on nursing homes. The CDC National Healthcare Safety Network Vaccination Unit is providing a refresher webinar on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, from 1:30 - 2:30 PM Eastern Time to review the up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination definition for LTC facilities reporting data through the COVID-19 Vaccination Modules.

The revised Phase 2 and the Phase 3 requirements of participation (RoP) went into effect on October 24, 2022. Many members have indicated that they are still working on implementing these changes and would benefit from education related to the RoPs.

The FY 2023 SNF PPS Final Rule that was published in the Federal Register August 2022, requires CMS-certified skilled nursing facilities to report annual Healthcare Personnel influenza vaccination summary data through the NHSN HPS Component for the 2022-2023 influenza season.

In August 2022, as part of the 2023 SNF PPS rule, CMS added to the requirements for the director of food and nutrition services at § 483.60(a)(2)(E). The addition now allows for another pathway for the director of food and nutrition to qualify for the position; this includes having two or more years of experience in the position of director of food and nutrition services in a nursing facility setting and has completed a course of study in food safety and management, by no later than October 1, 2023.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the mental health needs of frontline healthcare workers who have experienced the pandemic as both a personal crisis and a workplace crisis, having been deemed essential workers. MASStrong will provide support to the frontline healthcare workforce, prioritizing their resilience and mental health, with a focus on low wage frontline workers such as nursing home workers, home health aides, and long-term care aides. Supporting these important and vulnerable healthcare workers is the core mission of the MASStrong Program.

Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced a 6-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates including a focus on nursing homes.

At last week’s MSCA 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Governor Charlie Baker told attendees that the pandemic has challenged the long-term caregiving community in ways that go way beyond what others faced. The population in nursing homes, combined with the incredible contagiousness of the Covid-19 virus put nursing homes in a tenuous position and they performed “exceptionally well given the circumstances.”

DPH released updated information on Declaration of Jeopardy for Outbreaks or Clusters in Long-Term Care Facilities, MassHealth issued on CommBuys an amendment to its Nursing Facility Provider Transitions Program Request for Applications (RFA) clarifying the minimum qualifications for funding consideration, DPH shared an important update regarding COVID-19 therapeutics, and MassHealth has issued an eligibility operations memo.

Yesterday, the DPH shared that effective November 14, 2022, several COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Orders were rescinded. However, please note that although these orders have been rescinded, they have been replaced by longer term and more sustainable updates to statutes and regulations.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has issued an email to provide information on how certain eligible Nursing Facilities can receive reimbursement for trips for MassHealth members traveling to MassHealth covered services.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the mental health needs of frontline healthcare workers who have experienced the pandemic as both a personal crisis and a workplace crisis, having been deemed essential workers.

MassHealth has issued a (1) COVID-19 Preparedness Program Payments Bulletin specifying the criteria for nursing facilities to qualify for a one-time quality improvement supplemental payment in February 2023 and (2) Request for Assistance for Applications (RFAs) regarding a new Nursing Facility Patient Transition Program to facilitate a smooth transition of patients in need of post-acute, short-term care from acute hospital settings.

We are very pleased to announce that Governor Charlie Baker will speak at our November 17th Annual Meeting and we hope you will join us in thanking the Governor for his eight years of dedicated service to the Commonwealth and to helping to protect nursing facility residents and staff.

Mass Senior Care extends its congratulations to Governor-Elect Maura Healey and Lt. Governor-Elect Kim Driscoll on their historic victory in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election.

MassHealth has issued the COVID-19 Preparedness Program Payments Bulletin specifying the criteria for nursing facilities to qualify for a one-time quality improvement supplemental payment in February 2023.

DPH changed its nursing home worker vaccination policy to align with CMS’ requirement that staff receive the initial vaccination series, which virtually all Massachusetts nursing home staff have completed. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will be holding a conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m. The 2022 Mass Senior Care Annual Meeting & Trade Show is on Thursday, November 17th at the DCU Center in Worcester.

Through the Civil Monetary Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP), CMS has released the Head to Toe Infection Prevention (H2T) Toolkit.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on November 10th at 10 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. As always, we will be joined by representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. This call will include a presentation on cloud security.

The AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program’s intent to apply (ITA) deadline is approaching on November 15, 2022

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will host a webinar on Thursday November 10, 2022, from, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM titled, Managing Respiratory Illness Season in Long-Term Care Facilities.

The EOHHS has opened up a grant opportunity to strengthen partnerships between hospitals and Aging Service Access Points (ASAPs), for the purposes of supporting and coordinating patient transitions from hospitals to home and community-based settings (HCBS).

Mass Senior Care is very pleased to share that yesterday, DPH released updated guidance on the LTC Personnel COVID-19 vaccination requirement. DPH has modified the LTCF COVID-19 personnel vaccination requirement to align with CMS requirements which requires all long-term facility staff to have completed the COVID-19 vaccination primary series.

Mass Senior Care is very pleased to share that today DPH released updated guidance on the LTC Personnel COVID-19 vaccination requirement. DPH also released guidance on the LTCF COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine.

Mass Senior Care testified in opposition to the state’s bivalent booster mandate and instead urged EOHHS to align its vaccination regulation to be consistent with CMS which requires nursing home staff and all health care workers, including hospital staff, to be fully vaccinated. Also, the Mass Department of Public Health shared an advisory that due to widespread capacity constraints and workforce challenges all hospitals have been escalated to Tier 2, effective immediately.

Section 31 of chapter 42, of the acts of 2022, signed by Governor Baker on April 4, 2022, continued the authorization of 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 180 days after the Commonwealth’s Public Health Emergency ends. Also, join us for our 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 17th at the DCU Center in Worcester.

On October 21, 2022, CMS released a Revisions to Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program memo. These revisions are part of the Biden Harris Administration’s priority to improve the safety and quality of care in nursing homes, as outlined in a FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes.

CMS will host a national stakeholder call on November 1, 2022 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and her leadership team.

Skilled nursing facility reports are now available to review. It is strongly recommended that nursing facilities review this data by November 14, 2022 and contact CMS if you have questions.

To assist members in preparing for the significant changes coming to the MDS system in October 2023, Mass Senior Care is offering two courses presented by Maureen McCarthy, President & CEO of Celtic Consulting. A discounted rate is available for individuals who want to attend both workshops, please call the Mass Senior Care office at 617-558-0202.

The Mass. Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) is offering nursing home administrators the opportunity to gather virtually on November 9th to listen and learn from their peers

On October 24, 2022. CMS updated survey resources on the CMS Nursing Home website

Join us as we gather in-person for our 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 17th at the DCU Center in Worcester! In addition to learning from dynamic speakers on relevant workforce topics, you can also network with colleagues and vendors at the Trade Show and Luncheon. A post-conference “Thank You LTC Heroes” cocktail reception at Off the Rails restaurant will immediately follow the afternoon session.

MassHealth has issued an updated All Provider 352 Bulletin on Requirements for Reporting and Returning of Overpayments.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on November 10th at 10 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. As always, we will be joined by representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. This call will include a presentation on cloud security.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is making at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests available to Councils on Aging, Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs), Senior Affordable Housing Providers, Health Care Providers, and other Community-Based Organizations, free of cost, while supplies allow.