Member Resources

Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities continue to receive or are eligible to receive free monthly shipments of Abbott BinaxNOW over the counter (OTC) COVID-19 test kits from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

As a reminder, the DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness after the expiration of the PHE. Health care facilities must identify and monitor respiratory illness metrics to indicate when there are increased levels which may necessitate implementing additional infection control measures.

The CDC has launched an updated and improved COVID-19 website​. Based on the needs of the public, the updates are more streamlined and easier for the public to find relevant information on COVID-19.

Since their release on April 3, 2023, MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets and draft RAI guidance were updated and substantial changes were made to several sections.

The DPH has updated the Massachusetts Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO) Toolkit.

​As fall approaches, long-term care (LTC) providers should be preparing to vaccinate their residents and staff against common respiratory viruses.

After a brief pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS surveys are back on track. Join us to hear from the Department of Public Health (DPH) as they walk seminar participants through the steps of the survey process from entrance to exit.

As previously reported, the DPH has proposed amendments to several regulations, to standardize COVID-19 and influenza vaccination requirements across all licensed health care facility settings including 105 CMR 150.000 Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities With the proposed amendments, staff will need to be vaccinated with both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, unless an individual is subject to an exemption.

Member Updates: Public Hearing on Proposed Changes to Regulations related to COVID-19 Vaccination of Staff; CHIA Issues 2022 Nursing Facility Cost Report Forms: Due Date is September 22, 2023; REMINDER: 2023 DCC-Q Final Filing Reporting is Due on July 31st

Join AHCA/NCAL in the Mile-High City of Denver its Convention & Expo this year!

MassHealth this week issued two Nursing Facility bulletins in regard to Enhanced Care Coordination and Transition Support.

The Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation’s annual scholarship program assists long term care staff in meeting their personal and professional goals through furthering their education.

Member Update: MassHealth Issues 2 Nursing Facility Bulletins on Enhanced Care Coordination and Transition Support

Member Update: MassHealth Policy Updates to Support Return to Normal Business Operations

It is an absolute delight to see so many summer fun photos on social media, as our member facilities are busy coming up with creative ways for residents to beat the heat!

CMS will host a national stakeholder call on July 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm.

Since their release on April 3, 2023, MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets and draft RAI guidance were updated and substantial changes were made to several sections.

Join AHCA/NCAL in the Mile-High City of Denver its Convention & Expo this year!

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC)’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is no longer collecting primary vaccination series data.

Member Update: DPH Needs Assessment: Caring for Residents with OUD

Member Update: Reminder: MassHealth Announcement on Important PASRR Updates: Mandatory Training Webinars on July 19th and July 25th

Member Update: Proposed Changes to COVID-19 Vaccination Regulation for Health Care Personnel

Member Update: 2023 DCC-Q Final Filing Reporting is Due on July 31st: Online Portal Now Available for Data Entry

Member Update: MassHealth Announcement on Important PASRR Updates: Mandatory Training Webinars on July 19th and July 25th

Member Update: Potential Strike of UPS Workers; MassHealth Issues Two Eligibility Operations Memorandum Updates

Member Updates: CMS Posts Nursing Home Ownership and Performance Data on Care Compare; NHSN Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module – Reporting Issue; Register Now for July 12th Operationalizing Massachusetts MMQ transition to Medicaid PDPM Case Mix Members Only Webinar

Member Update: Hospital Capacity Constraints

Since their release on April 3, 2023, MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets and draft RAI guidance were updated and substantial changes were made to several sections.

Join AHCA/NCAL in the Mile-High City of Denver its Convention & Expo this year!

On June 28, 2023, CMS released, QSO-23-18-NH announcing the addition of ownership information to Nursing Home Care Compare.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is recruiting long-term care facilities to participate in the AHRQ Safety Program for MRSA Prevention.

As a reminder, the DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness after the expiration of the PHE.

Member Updates: MassHealth Announcement: PASRR Portal Will Be Launching in August 2023; Enhanced Care Coordination and Transition Support Training Materials Posted on MassHealth LTSS Provider Portal

Member Updates: MassHealth Nursing Facility MDS Training for PDPM Transition; 2023 DCC-Q Final Filing Reporting is Due on July 31st

Member Updates: Revised Infection Control Reporting Requirements Grid; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; Final Chance to Register for June 28 CNA to LPN Pipeline Webinar

Congratulations to Notre Dame Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Center which celebrated its 30th anniversary on June 17th.

The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) has started Online Peer Support Communities (OPSC), which is a national, peer focused program that provides individuals, who have experienced a natural or human-caused disaster, opportunities to come together for mutual aid, to share trusted resources, and to help one another heal from the effects of a traumatic event.

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

During the public health emergency (PHE), the CMS utilized enforcement discretion to allow entities, such as long-term care pharmacies, that provide vaccinations to nursing facility residents to directly bill and receive payment for the administration of COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccines.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the start of the SNF (skilled nursing facility) 5-Claim Probe & Educate Review program.

Since their release on April 3, 2023, MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets and draft RAI guidance were updated and substantial changes were made to several sections.

The NHSN Vaccination team will be hosting upcoming trainings to review important changes and information regarding reporting person-level resident and health care personnel COVID-19 vaccination data through the NHSN Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Component.

Mass Senior Care member facilities celebrated their CNAs during National Certified Nursing Assistants Week from June 15-21, 2023 in creative and thoughtful ways.