This week, Commonwealth Magazine published an op-ed penned by Tara M. Gregorio, President of Massachusetts Senior Care Association calling for vital workforce investments for Massachusetts nursing homes and their caregivers.

With the FDA authorization and CDC recommendations of a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain individuals including those over age 50, DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly encourages Long-Term Care Facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents by April 30 or as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

The DPH released updated Comprehensive PPE guidance, Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds are available to certified nursing facilities to add portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency (HEPA H-13 or H-14) filters to increase and improve air quality in nursing homes, and DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly encourages Long-Term Care Facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

The DPH and Mass Senior Care is urging long-term care facilities to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to residents and staff. In accordance with CDC, the DPH strongly encourages long-term care facilities to administer a second booster vaccine to their residents.

The DPH has developed a job aid to assist nursing facilities in reporting Healthcare personnel influenza vaccination data to the Virtual Gateway's Health Care Facility Reporting System (HCFRS), Mass Senior Care is hosting an informational session on the HireNow program for facility members only, and reminder about DPH monthly call.

DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly encourages Long-Term Care Facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster, today the DPH shared updated clinical guidance for COVID-19 therapeutics, and join the informational session on the HireNow program for facility members only.

CMS announced that it is ending specific emergency declaration blanket waivers for SNFs/NFs, inpatient hospices, ICF/IIDs and ESRD facilities, Mass Senior Care is hosting an informational session on the HireNow program for facility members only, and DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.

In response to a recent Mass Senior Care Education Program survey, we are pleased to announce several new seminars designed to help providers refresh their skills and improve their clinical knowledge. We plan to offer virtual QAPI and Director of Nurses Leadership Training so please check our website frequently for updated program offerings. RAC-CT Certification 3 Day Workshop – June 1, June 8 and June 15 – In person, Alliance Health at Marie Esther, Marlborough, MA Mass Senior Care and

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on April 14th at 10:00 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. As always, we will be joined by representatives of CISA and the Massachusetts State Police/Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. The call with provide a recap of the Tabletop Exercise that included health care organizations the MassCyberCenter held on March 30th.