Massachusetts Representatives Lori Trahan, Jake Auchincloss, Katherine Clark, Jim McGovern, Ayanna Pressley and Seth Moulton have signed on to a Congressional letter to President Biden’s COVID-19 Response team coordinator listing their concerns that certain nurse-staffing agencies are taking advantage of the pandemic to increase their profits at the expense of patients. The letter urges the White House to enlist one or more of the federal agencies with competition and consumer protection authority to investigate this conduct to determine if it

As outlined in QSO memo 22-08-NH from earlier this year CMS has added 5 five additional staffing measures to Care Compare (formerly Nursing Home Compare). Three staff turnover and two weekend staffing measures have been added to with the latest update.

The Baker-Polito Administration yesterday filed its Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget proposal totaling $48.5 billion, in which the Governor proposes maintaining the current nursing facility funding levels.

Yesterday the DPH released updated guidance on Caring for LTC Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency which required testing of all staff that were not up to date with COVID-19 vaccine at the beginning of each shift, and on Friday, January 21, 2022, the FDA approved Remdesivir (Veklury), administered in a series of three daily intravenous infusions (200 mg, 100 mg, 100 mg), for patients not hospitalized due to COVID-19 and with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within seven days of symptom onset in patients at risk of progression to severe disease.

Mass Senior Care has been informed by DPH that there will be a subsequent revision to the Update to Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency guidance that was released today.

The DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m, DPH released revised Update to Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Response guidance, today the DPH released additional information about the Skilled Nursing Facility Short-Term Rehab Temporary Program and the list of skilled nursing facilities that are currently participating in this program, and last week, the DPH released Updated Comprehensive PPE Guidance.

The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, January 27, 2022, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). Registration is not required but participants should dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time. The following will be discussed during the call: PBJ Reminder Policy Questions should be sent to NHStaffing@cms.hhs.gov Technical Issues/Questions should be sent to iqies@cms.hhs.gov PBJ Website: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Ins… Public Reporting Updates on the January 2022 Refresh

Alleviate some of your workforce challenges by training staff and volunteers to become feeding assistants. Overall health is greatly improved when residents are able to maintain good nutrition. AHCA's easy-to-use training manual provides important background information and practical exercises. Topics covered in this timely resource include feeding and hydration techniques, safety and emergency procedures, communication and interpersonal skills, and infection prevention and control.

The deadline to submit all applications to AHCA is by 8 p.m. EST next Thursday, January 27.