Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association. Our members have demonstrated their commitment to the senior care provider community by joining Mass Senior Care and we are grateful for their support.

The Boston Medical Center is offering free, virtual X-waiver training in January to February and February to March 2022. for all prescribers regardless if they currently prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The training is necessary to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in 30 or more residents. For those who treat fewer than 30 residents, the training is still highly recommended.

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and her leadership team will provide updates​ on the CMS Strategic Vision, key 2021 accomplishments, and 2022 goals.

MassHealth has extended the deadline for responses on the agency’s Health Equity Requests for Information (RFIs) to February 4, 2022:

EOHHS has issued a Notice Opportunity to Participate in the Care Model Focus Initiative (CMFI) Core Team for the One Care Program. The agency is seeking up to five individuals to participate on the Core Team to examine the Care Model domains associated with the One Care program.

MassHealth has issued a reminder that Nursing Facility Bulletin 170: HST Brokerage Transportation for Members in Nursing Facilities is now posted to the MassHealth Nursing facility Bulletin website. The link to download the bulletin can be found here: download (mass.gov). 

On January 7, 2022, CMS posted QSO memo 22-08-NH indicating it will begin posting staffing turnover and weekend staffing levels for each nursing home on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website​ in January and add the measures to the staffing domain of the Five Star Rating system in July 2022.   

The DPH has provided important reminders for Long-Term Care Facilities on the Reporting of Influenza and Influenza-Like Illness. As in past years, long-term care facilities should report influenza-like illness (ILI) clusters (three cases of ILI in residents), or one lab-confirmed case of influenza in a resident, by faxing a 2019 Teleform to 617-983-6220.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) in April 2021 adopted revisions to the LTCF licensure regulations that included a provision that facilities must meet a requirement to have no more than 2 beds in a room by April 30, 2022.

Mass Senior Care is reminding members that MassHealth will issue a one-time supplemental payment to nursing facilities if 75% of the facility’s eligible staff members receive a COVID-19 vaccine third dose or booster dose by January 16, 2022.