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.