On April 10th, the Committee on House Ways and Means (HWM) released its version of the state FY2020 budget. The Committee's recommendation includes an additional $30 Million in funding for nursing home care; establishes a Nursing Facility Emergency Task Force to make recommendations on long term sustainability of the nursing facility sector.

Member Update: DPH Webinar on Respiratory Virus Illnesses

Late last week, a federal judge in Texas struck down the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Overtime Rule which was originally released on April 23, 2024. The Overtime Rule would raise the minimum salary threshold for employees who are classified as exempt from payment of overtime wages under the “white-collar” exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) has launched an electronic payment service available for Assisted Living Residences (ALR) to pay the application and certification fees required to be certified as an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) in MA. The optional electronic payment service became effective November 1, 2024.

The MAVRIC electronic death registration system go live date has been delayed. The final code testing led to further adjustments for funeral home staff, burial agents, and medical examiners.

Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff especially as we enter respiratory virus season.

Vaccination rates for the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine remain extremely low for residents in Massachusetts’ nursing facilities. NHSN data from the week ending November 10, 2024, indicate only 30.7% of nursing facility residents have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, ranking Massachusetts as 26th out of 50 states and slightly higher than the national average of 30.4%.

Please join us on Tuesday, December 3rd, in supporting the Mass Senior Care Foundation’s mission to promote workforce quality and to provide our compassionate caregivers with scholarships as they pursue advanced training and higher education.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to report that Governor Healey also signed into the law a provision adding the Commonwealth to the national Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) which is vital to continued efforts to address the nursing workforce shortage.