The second MassMAP annual disaster exercise preparation conference call is scheduled for Thursday, September 8th.

Last week the DPH sent a notification to nursing facilities to remind them that with the end of the 1135 waiver for nurse aide training and testing, nursing facilities have until October 6, 2022, to come back into compliance with the federal requirements for nurse aide staff hired between March 10, 2020, and June 6, 2022.

CMS released a revision QSO-22-15-NH & NLTC & LSC: Update to COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Specific Providers to provide more information related to waivers of the Nurse Aide Training Competency and Evaluation requirements, and register for the upcoming Mass Senior Care Association educational programs.

The DPH sent a notification to nursing facilities to remind them that with the end of the 1135 waiver for nurse aide training and testing, nursing facilities have until October 6, 2022, to come back into compliance with the federal requirements for nurse aide staff hired between March 10, 2020, and June 6, 2022, and CMS is hosting a Nursing Home Staffing Study Stakeholder Listening Session.

MassHealth yesterday posted an amended Questions and Answers document to COMMBUYS for the Nursing Facility Capital Improvement and Innovation Project Forgivable Loan Program.

MassHealth has scheduled 2 surveillance testing payments to be deposited into nursing facilities’ accounts on Friday, August 19, 2022, and on last week’s DPH Long Term Care Provider monthly call, DPH clarified that temperature checks for individuals entering the facility were no longer required.

The Long Term Care Survey manual, Phase 3 is now available to pre-order from AHCA for September delivery. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin enforcing new Phase 3 Requirements of Participation (ROP) on October 24, 2022.

Hamel-Lydon Chapel & Cremation Service of Massachusetts appreciates the special care and dedication that frontline healthcare workers provide to patients on a regular basis.

The Department of Public Health is following up to yesterday's Long-Term Care monthly call discussion on antigen test expiry date extensions, Long Term Care Infection Prevention & Control Webinar Series, and registration is now open for the new Workforce Innovations Collaborative (WFIC).