Member Resources

This memo addresses preparing for wave 4, the 7/23/2021 DPH Weekly COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Bulletin, and a virtual job fair that the MassHire system is hosting on August 16-20, 10AM-2PM each day.

With the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in MA and across the country, Mass Senior Care wants to remind members to stay vigilant in your precautions to keep your residents and staff safe and protected. Facilities should follow the most up-to-date CDC, CMS and DPH guidelines and ensure continued use of infection control protocols, including proper use of personal protective equipment (including source control masks), social distancing, screening staff and visitors and testing.

MassHealth has updated the application packet for health benefits for seniors and people needing long-term-care services (SACA-2), effective July 2021. The following changes were made in the July 2021 version of the SACA-2:

Massachusetts has begun the important work of transitioning the current paper-based MOLST Program to the much improved POLST electronic form and statewide electronic registry.

The Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has issued to Massachusetts employers a COVID-19 Recovery Assessment Rate letter. This letter implements the legislative fix last May 28th that addressed the issue of higher than anticipated solvency assessments in the first quarter of calendar year 2021. Solvency assessments unexpectedly increased from .58 percent in 2020 to 9.23 percent in 2021.

The DPH has released guidance for a dialysis facility to provide home dialysis services to nursing home residents. The dialysis facility must do so under a written agreement with the nursing home. The dialysis facility must maintain direct responsibility for the dialysis related care and services provided to the nursing home residents.

On Tuesday, July 20, 2021, the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing heard public testimony on Mass Senior Care supported Nursing Home Stabilization and Nursing Home Quality Job Initiative bills Lawn. These bills would modernize the state’s nursing facility funding formula to better reflect the current cost of quality resident care, allow facilities to hire more staff and would establish a “quality job” for nursing facility staff by providing a living wage and career growth opportunity.

Secretary of Health and Human Services renewed the ongoing federal Public Health Emergency effective July 20, 2021, DPH released updated guidance on the implementation of the Order of the Commissioner of Public Health regarding Control of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities, additional measures to prevent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission in long-term care facilities in Barnstable County, and temporary licenses granted to nurses during the COVID-19 public health emergency will expire on September 15, 2021.

EOHHS/UMASS issues Direct Care Cost Quotient (DCC-Q) final filing notice to providers: July 30th Deadline, and information on DPH Weekly COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Bulletin.

AHCA will be having Part 2 of their Food and Nutrition Survey webinar on August 12th. This presentation identifies top citations in food and nutrition services including recent F880 Infection Control tags. As states open up annual surveys, this presentation gives you the tools to be ready. Registration is only available to AHCA/NCAL members.

Governor Charlie Baker is currently reviewing the FY 2022 budget recommendation. Please urge Governor Baker to sign into law two important nursing facility provisions in Medicaid Line Item 4000-0601 which would set Medicaid nursing facility rates using more current 2019 costs and provide an rate add-on for nursing facilities caring for over 75% of Medicaid residents. Take Action Now!

Register for Mass Senior Care's upcoming DNS Strategies for Success: Building Nursing Leadership series and the Living Life to the End with Dignity, Respect and Understanding series for long term care staff. Don't miss these programs!

The Legislature yesterday adopted its FY 2022 budget recommendation and Mass Senior Care is pleased to report that the Legislature has recommended appropriating additional funding to set Medicaid nursing facility rates using calendar year 2019 costs and to provide an additional rate add on for facilities with a disproportionate share of Medicaid residents totaling over 75%.

On July 12, 2021 the DPH released an updated memorandum on Control of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities.

DPH released clinical guidance regarding management of COVID-19 recovered individuals in long-term care facilities, non-acute hospitals and other congregate facilities who test positive again more than 3 months after their original symptom onset or original positive test, CMS released minor updates to is Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment FAQs, and a reminder about the DPH Monthly Call.

On May 28, 2021, the Commonwealth enacted a COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave law, and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing has scheduled a virtual hearing on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 11:00am.

Patient Safety Beat is a monthly email newsletter from the Betsy Lehman Center, a state agency working to improve health care safety across Massachusetts. Recent stories highlight timely issues such as vaccination efforts in long-term care, visitation policies during and after the pandemic, and peer support for patients and families.

The 72nd AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, taking place from October 10-13 at the National Harbor outside Washington, DC, offers education sessions in more than 16 tracks of learning​.

On June 30, 2021, a memorandum issued by EOEA Secretary Dr. Elizabeth Chen, provided an update on the free, online training course for providers to prevent and eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

This week, Mass Senior Care members, Legacy Lifecare and Sherrill House, announced their organizations will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Legacy Lifecare operates a network of not-for-profit organizations including Chelsea Jewish Lifecare of Chelsea and Peabody, JGS Lifecare of Longmeadow, Deutsches Altenheim of West Roxbury, and Elizabeth Seton Residence and Marillac Residence of Wellesley. And, Sherrill House is a not-for-profit skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center in Boston.

This COVID-19 memo shares updates from DPH on increasing COVID-19 Vaccination, information about the VaxBus Tour Mobile Clinics; and registering for a July 8th Healthcare Cybersecurity Call.

MassHealth has created two grids as a resource for nursing facility providers in regard to MassHealth eligibility, and the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is now open for providers to report fund use for April 10, 2020 through June 30, 2020.

The Department of Public Health has indicated that an increasing number of nursing facilities are failing to both report weekly to CHIA on surveillance testing and failing to test 90% of unvaccinated staff, Mass Senior Care would like to remind nursing facilities that the use of face masks for source control is still required by the DPH, and register for July 13th OSHA Webinar.

The Joint Committee on Elder Affairs yesterday held a public hearing on 18 bills related to long term care facilities, many of which proposed higher minimum staffing requirements, care team planning requirements, new technology standard to foster communication between residents and their loved ones, new square footage requirements, and changes in suitability requirements for ownership changes, and a workforce survey.

Yesterday, Tom Lavallee, Mass Senior Care’s Board Chair and COO of Alliance Health Management, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Polar Park in Worcester. The LTC Appreciation Night at the Worcester Red Sox game was hosted by ProCare LTC Pharmacy, a Mass Senior Care Associate Member. The great event was attended by over 100 long term care leaders and professionals across the State.

Mass Senior Care would like to remind nursing facilities that the use of face masks for source control is still required by the DPH regulation. The updates to the DPH Guidance for Caring for Residents during the COVID-19 Response includes the following:

Brighten A Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which lifts the spirits of nursing facility and assisted living residents by sending them love, hope, and joy through cards, letters, gifts, conversations, video messages, devices, care packages, and more. During her freshman year of high school, Hita Gupta started Brighten A Day which has now grown into a national organization with thousands of volunteers of all ages from locations across the country. To date, Brighten A Day has brought smiles to

Meet Seana Hall who is one of the 45,000 dedicated caregivers providing care and vital companionship to the Commonwealth’s nursing home residents. Seana has recently been promoted from Activities Director to Director of Admissions at Briarwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Needham. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Seana implemented creative activities to ensure residents living at Briarwood had a sense of normalcy and stayed connected with their family members and loved ones, including dance parties, bingo in the hallway, and a

The new AHRQ Toolkit to Improve Antibiotic Use in Long-Term Care offers a step-by-step approach to help facilities start or revitalize an antibiotic stewardship program. Using the Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making, facilities can identify critical time periods to help prescribers make decisions about antibiotic therapy.

Fully vaccinated Massachusetts residents can register to win cash prizes or college scholarships in the state’s VaxMillions Giveaway starting on Thursday, July 1st. Fully vaccinated Massachusetts residents who are 18 and older can enter the giveaway to win one of five $1 million cash prizes, and residents ages 12-17 can enter to win one of five $300,000 college scholarships in the form of a 529 college savings plan, per the giveaway rules. To promote the Mass VaxMillions Giveaway in your facility, download a promotional flyer which you can print and post in your facility.

For the first time in 50 years the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to address exposure to COVID-19 to workers in health care settings. Although temporary, the standard will be enforced effective July 6, 2021, and fully enforced on July 21, 2021.

In honor of National Nursing Assistant Week on June 17-24, Rose Marie Pardo, resident at Hancock Park Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Quincy, calls for legislation and funding to pay CNAs a living wage. Her op-ed, CNAs are heroes: It’s time to pay them a living wage, was published in The Patriot Ledger last week.

The Baker Administration today announced that effective July 1st the weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report will be discontinued, and MassHealth issued a reminder that it is in the process of making numerous patient paid amount (PPA) adjustments for the period April 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020 for MassHealth members and requested that facilities do not make any changes to a MassHealth member’s PPA until you receive a Notice of Financial Liability (NFL) notice.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to address exposure to COVID-19 to workers in health care settings, CMS issued an updated memo (QSO-20-41-ALL) this week that provides new guidance around when an inpatient provider may be exempted from its next required full-scale exercise, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will make multiple updates and modifications to reporting modules, and Mass Senior Care shares CNA training opportunities.

Yesterday the DPH issued updated Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance. It is expected that these changes are implemented no later than July 1, 2021. Mass Senior Care recommends members review the guidance closely.

Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton recently celebrated their resident Hazel's 113th birthday, the oldest resident in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!

Today, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced the 2021 Silver - Achievement in Quality award recipients. This year, 50 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), 13 assisted living communities (ALs), and one SNF/AL in 28 states achieved the Silver Award. Two Mass Senior Care member facilities have been recognized this year, including Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility in Greenfield and Sunrise of Wayland in Wayland.

CMS has updated the Focused Infection Control and Standard Survey tools, MassHealth today issued a reminder that it is in the process of making numerous patient paid amount (PPA) adjustments for MassHealth members and requests that facilities do not make any changes to a MassHealth member’s PPA until you receive a Notice of Financial Liability (NFL) notice, and EOHHS has indicated that there will be no reduction in facility revenue for Medicaid residents impacted by this PPA change.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is investing in workforce grants in critical sectors, including health care, to prepare individuals to secure employment, support their families, and contribute to the state’s post-pandemic economic recovery. If you have questions about these programs or want assistance developing a training pipeline strategy to meet your CNA hiring needs, please contact Jennifer Chen, Director of Membership.

The Conference Committee is currently reconciling the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget recommendations of the House and Senate. Mass Senior Care has contacted the Conferees to urge them to include in the final Conference report (1) an update to the MassHealth nursing facility funding formula using 2019 costs and (2) a rate add-on for facilities that care for a disproportionate share of MassHealth nursing facility residents. These two sections would continue to build upon the Legislature’s efforts to modernize and stabilize the nursing facility sector by better recognizing current care costs, in order to make necessary investments in our workforce and improve resident experience and quality outcomes.

The state’s largest hospital systems announced today that they will mandate all of their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, once a vaccine is approved by the FDA which is expected soon. Leaders of Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and Wellforce told their workers that requiring vaccination for employees is critical for protecting vulnerable patients.

Publicly available data on NHSN show 87% of nursing facility residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19, ranking 9th in the nation. And 69.2% of nursing facility staff have been vaccinated, ranking 8th in the nation. Mass Senior Care Association continues to work with our member long term care facilities to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among residents and staff. Achieving a high rate of resident and staff vaccinations is critical to our fight against COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of our residents and the entire caregiving team.

CNA Training Opportunities The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is investing in workforce grants in critical sectors, including health care, to prepare individuals to secure employment, support their families, and contribute to the state’s post-pandemic economic recovery. If you have questions about these programs or want assistance developing a training pipeline strategy to meet your CNA hiring needs, please contact Jennifer Chen, Director of Membership. Rapid Reemployment Program Grant Program Last week Governor Baker announced the first round of grant funding through

DPH is transitioning its weekly COVID-19 resources conference call for nursing homes and rest homes instead to a once-per-month call, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) will hold a virtual Town Hall event today from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET), and Mass Senior Care Association has a small inventory of KN95 masks available to facilities free of charge.

Updated Guidance on Use and Allowable Wastage of COVID-19 Vaccine; EOHHS Issues Initial HCBS Spending Plan for Use of Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funding; DPH Updates Guidance on Determining Inadequate Staffing Factor; Important Update on Verbal Consent on MOLST Form; LTC Staffing Portal to Close by June 30th; Reminder: AHCA/NCAL to Host Virtual Town Hall for Long Term Care Staff on COVID-19 Vaccine.