Mass Senior Care is very pleased to share that today DPH released updated guidance on the LTC Personnel COVID-19 vaccination requirement. DPH also released guidance on the LTCF COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine.

Mass Senior Care testified in opposition to the state’s bivalent booster mandate and instead urged EOHHS to align its vaccination regulation to be consistent with CMS which requires nursing home staff and all health care workers, including hospital staff, to be fully vaccinated. Also, the Mass Department of Public Health shared an advisory that due to widespread capacity constraints and workforce challenges all hospitals have been escalated to Tier 2, effective immediately.

Section 31 of chapter 42, of the acts of 2022, signed by Governor Baker on April 4, 2022, continued the authorization of nursing practice by graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) until 180 days after the Commonwealth’s Public Health Emergency ends. Also, join us for our 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 17th at the DCU Center in Worcester.

On October 21, 2022, CMS released a Revisions to Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program memo. These revisions are part of the Biden Harris Administration’s priority to improve the safety and quality of care in nursing homes, as outlined in a FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes.

CMS will host a national stakeholder call on November 1, 2022 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and her leadership team.

Skilled nursing facility reports are now available to review. It is strongly recommended that nursing facilities review this data by November 14, 2022 and contact CMS if you have questions.

To assist members in preparing for the significant changes coming to the MDS system in October 2023, Mass Senior Care is offering two courses presented by Maureen McCarthy, President & CEO of Celtic Consulting. A discounted rate is available for individuals who want to attend both workshops, please call the Mass Senior Care office at 617-558-0202.

The Mass. Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) is offering nursing home administrators the opportunity to gather virtually on November 9th to listen and learn from their peers

On October 24, 2022. CMS updated survey resources on the CMS Nursing Home website