Member Resources

On May 31, 2023, ​CMS withdrew all requirements to vaccinate staff for COVID-19. HOWEVER, Massachusetts regulations, under 105 CMR 150.002 D. (11) Requirement for Personnel to Be Vaccinated against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Caused by the Virus SARS-CoV-2, requires each facility to ensure all personnel have received COVID-19 vaccination, unless an individual is subject to an exemption.

MassHealth today via emergency regulation updated the Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Regulation to implement the policy change to the methodology of the COVID-19 Preparedness Payments creating two groups based on two different thresholds.

Member Updates: MassHealth Issues Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Update to MassHealth Nursing Facility Program Regulations; Register Now for MSCA’s CNA to LPN Pipeline Webinar On June 28th

Member Updates: Senate Adopts FY 2024 Budget; Register Now for CNA to LPN Pipeline Webinar

The DPH has provided Mass Senior Care with the following contact information for the Department of Facility Licensure and Certification:

The healthcare industry is an ever-fluctuating arena deeply impacted by Federal and State legislative changes, economic turmoil and resident expectations.

To address our historic nursing shortage, it is critically necessary that facilities invest in strategies to grow your own workforce, including upskilling CNAs to become LPNs. Register now for MSCA's webinar "The CNA to LPN Pipeline: Steps to Growing Your Own Nurses".

Adam Ernst, Executive Director of the Leonard Florence Center for Living, has been selected as one of 38 long term care professionals from across the country to participate in the nineteenth annual "Future Leaders of Long Term Care (LTC) in America" program hosted by the American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).

CMS has reissued transmittal instructions for Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to perform a 5-claim probe and educate medical review on every SNF in their jurisdiction.

CMS has released updates to several survey resource documents, including the Entrance Conference form and the Infection Prevention, Control, and Immunization Critical Element (CE) pathway.

The CMS Quality, Safety & Evaluation Portal (QSEP) provides the full curriculum of surveyor training and guidance on health care facility regulations. QSEP is an online platform, and all training is available on-demand.

On May 22, 2023, EOEA Secretary Elizabeth Chen released guidance for assisted living facilities on Best Practices for Preventing the Transmission of Respiratory Viruses, such as COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza.

On May 18th, the U.S. Senate Special Committee issued a new report, titled “Uninspected and Neglected,” detailing the results of a year-long investigation into the capacity of state survey agencies to oversee health and safety standards at the Nation’s 15,000 nursing homes.

With the theme of Cultivating Kindness, nursing facilities across the state found creative and fun ways to celebrate National Skilled Nursing Home Week (May 14-20), including box car races, Elvis impersonators, hosting tea parties, planting gardens and donating to local food pantries.

Member Updates: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; DPH Issues Naloxone Advisory

National Nurses Week is underway May 6-12, 2023, with a theme of “You Make a Difference.” MSCA extends our heartfelt appreciation to all nurses who have dedicated their career and talents to ensure the residents of MA nursing facilities receive the highest quality care. We salute each of you and look forward to the many celebrations as nurses are honored for the difference they make in the lives of residents, family members and coworkers. As part of National Nurses Week

Established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with CMS, the COE-NF offers Certified Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Staff a centralized resource hub with easy access to trainings, technical assistance and additional resources, at no cost.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued the “Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications” – a temporary rule that extends telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

The Senate Ways and Means (SWM) Committee today released its FY 2024 budget recommendation totaling $55.8 billion. The Committee’s recommendation, similar to the House’s final budget recommendation, includes MSCA’s funding request of $277 million over the current FY 2023 Medicaid nursing facility budget appropriation.

The CDC is discontinuing the COVID-19 Community Transmission map with the end of the PHE on May 11th. To better align with these updated CDC recommendations, CMS announced the expiration of QSO-20-38-NH (COVID-19 Testing) effective May 11th and the revision of QSO-20-39-NH (Visitation) effective May 8th. The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. DPH will be holding a conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, May 10th. Limited registrations remaining for May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show.

Member Updates: CDC and CMS Update COVID-19 Guidance; Joint Committee on Health Care Financing to Hold Public Hearing on MSCA Temporary Nursing Service Agency Bill; DPH Conference Call for Long Term Care Providers on May 10th; Register Now for Next Week’s Spring Conference & Trade Show.

DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness. Also, DPH released updated guidance on Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). MassHealth is working to add nursing facility capacity in urban areas, especially greater Boston, for patients with behavioral health needs including mental illness, ABI and TBI. Join us for a dynamic and informative program featuring Steven Littlehale from Zimmet Healthcare, Dr. Sasha Albert, Associate Director at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Catherine Nwachukwu, Manager for Strategy and Research at the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), and a member provider panel featuring Adam Berman, President & CEO of Legacy Lifecare and Deb Richardson, VP of Talent Management at Integritus Healthcare.

The HealthSec: Cyber Security for Healthcare Summit launches its very first edition in Boston, Massachusetts on May 23rd - 24th.

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through June 1, 2023 with promo code GNP4QUALITY (all caps).

Republican and Democrat Congressional lawmakers continue to negotiate the details of extending the U.S. debt ceiling to enable the government to continue to pay its bills on time.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder yesterday announced that preliminary revenue collections for April 2023 declined sharply from the April 2022 collections, by a total of $2.2 billion or 31%.

Member Updates: MassHealth Seeks to Add Nursing Facility Capacity; MassHealth Posts Nursing Facility MDS Provider Information Session Materials; Limited Registrations Remaining for May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show.

Join us for a dynamic and informative program featuring Steven Littlehale from Zimmet Healthcare, Dr. Sasha Albert, Associate Director at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Catherine Nwachukwu, Manager for Strategy and Research at the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), and a member provider panel featuring Adam Berman, President & CEO of Legacy Lifecare and Deb Richardson, VP of Talent Management at Integritus Healthcare.

On Monday, CMS released a new regulatory memo QSO-23-13-ALL entitled Guidance for Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. Final chance to register for Friday's webinar Ready, Set, Go...Away: Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS (PART 1). Join Mass Senior Care at our May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show.

Member Updates: CDC Announces NHSN Reporting Relief; HHS BinaxNOW Program to Continue After PHE Ends

Member Updates: Reminder: Ensure Accurate Medicaid Days Reporting on Quarterly User Fee Form; New Option for MassHealth NF Customer Service

On October 1, 2023, MassHealth will transition to a Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) from MMQs. Mass Senior Care is partnering with Celtic Consulting to provide a series of webinars from May – October to help members develop and implement new policies and procedures to ensure accurate and appropriate reimbursement as we simultaneously manage the MMQ process through October

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.

As a reminder, nursing homes are required to submit HCP influenza data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) by May 15, 2023. The annual healthcare personnel influenza vaccination summary data must be reported through the NHSN HPS Component. As a condition of licensure, all licensed healthcare facilities must: Offer free-of-charge, annual influenza vaccine to all personnel (full and part-time employees, contracted employees, volunteers, house staff and students). Document receipt of influenza vaccine

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is working to modernize its Vital Records and Statistics system with the electronic completion of RN/NP/PA pronouncements

On April 26, 2023, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office released an audit report of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), which reviewed the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. The current audit followed up on deficiencies found in a 2018 Audit Report, completed under the previous administration

On April 26, 2023 The Roadmap to Health Care Safety for Massachusetts was released at the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum. Leaders from health care organizations, patient advocates and policymakers were among the nearly 200 people who attended the public forum in Boston.

The CDC recently updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to provide options for people at higher risk who will benefit from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses and to simplify vaccine schedules.

Join us for a dynamic and informative program featuring Steven Littlehale from Zimmet Healthcare, Dr. Sasha Albert, Associate Director at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Tara Gregorio and Susan Misiorski from Mass Senior Care Association and a member provider panel. We will spend the day learning 10 concrete steps you can take to mitigate risk in your facility as well as best practices on building a pipeline of new workers while ensuring equity in your workforce.

Member Updates: COVID-19 Vaccines; Register Now for “Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS” Webinar; Spring Conference Registration is Now Open.

Member Updates: MassHealth Issues Updated Billing Guidance; MassHealth Issues Two Eligibility Operations Memos; Department of Family and Medical Leave Extension Request; Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) A Claims Transformation Office Hours for LTSS; Register Now for “Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS” Webinar.

Member Updates: EOHHS Updates OneCare and SCO Plan Contract Rates; Reminder: MassHealth Re-Issues COVID-Preparedness Program Bulletin; Register Now for “Preparing for a Successful Transition from MMQ to MDS” Webinar.

MSCA President Tara Gregorio, earlier this month presented testimony to the Legislature on Senate 379 and House 648, Acts to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long Term Care. The proposed omnibus nursing facility reform bill is designed to address workforce, resident care, and suitability issues identified by the 2020 Nursing Facility Task Force. The bill includes vital workforce investments, among other items, that establish career ladder grants, create a tuition reimbursement program, and fund living wages for front line employees

There is no question that building a pipeline of new nurses is key to filling the 1,500 vacant LPN positions in Massachusetts nursing facilities! To assist members with growing their own nurses, MSCA is pleased to release a new toolkit detailing steps in upskilling incumbent CNAs to LPNs. While there are still spaces available for the upcoming fall 2023 semester, time is of the essence for individuals interested in pursuing this option as most schools make their admission decisions no

Member Update: MassHealth Schedules 2nd Training Webinar for Transition to a Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM): April 27th.

Member Updates: HWM’s Committee FY24 Budget Recommendation Funds Free Community College; MassHealth Issues Eligibility Operations Memo.

MassHealth on April 3rd announced that it is accepting online eligibility applications for Seniors and People of any age who need LTC services. Please click here to access the online application form and instructions on how to file online.