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 cases of increased respiratory illnesses are on the rise. At the expiration of the PHE, DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness.

On January 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued two MMWR articles describing changes in the 2025 immunization schedule for children, adolescents and adults. Changes related to older adults include new and updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV).

Today, a federal judge in Seattle, WA temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship regardless of the parents’ immigration status.

The Healey administration announced that it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve an Unemployment Insurance Liability that was created during the Baker Administration.

On January 21, Governor Healey announced plans to invest at least $2.5 billion to modernize higher public education campuses over the next decade. The investments were announced as part of a bond bill – An Act to Build Resilient Infrastructure to Generate Higher Education Transformation (the BRIGHT Act).

As a Mass Senior Care member benefit, facility members are encouraged to participate in our Committees that include Clinical & Regulatory, Finance & Reimbursement, and Human Resources. This is an opportunity for members to learn from one another and provide valuable feedback to Mass Senior Care policy staff.

On January 21, the Healy administration announced the closure of the 60-bed Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children located in Canton. The hospital offers medical, rehabilitative, educational, and recreational services for individuals with "severe" physical and cognitive disabilities and other conditions.

Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll issued on Wednesday their FY2026 budget recommendation totaling $59.6 billion in non-surtax spending. This represents a 2.6% percent increase over the current year, in line with estimated inflation.

Member Update: Transitions from Acute Care to Post-Acute Care (TACPAC) Task Force; Continued Hospital Capacity Constraints; Update to Long-term Care Survey Guidance

Re: Member Update: Governor Healey Issues H.1 FY2026 Budget Recommendation; Governor Healey Files $2.5 Billion Bill to Modernize Public Higher Education Campuses; Healey Administration and Department of Labor Reach Deal to Resolve Billion Unemployment Insurance Liability