On June 10 the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter, in collaboration with Massachusetts Senior Care Association, hosted the first in a series of monthly healthcare cybersecurity calls centered around the current threat landscape and best practices for organizations across the healthcare provider landscape. Representatives from over 17 distinct organizations, with expertise ranging from direct patient care to the management of IT and security infrastructure, met to discuss the federal and regional cybersecurity challenges with Ron Ford – Cybersecurity Advisor for CISA New England; Sergeant Brian Gavioli of the Massachusetts State Police and Commonwealth Fusion Center; and Amber Debole – CISO for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

AHCA/NCAL will hold a virtual town hall event for long term care staff to get more information about the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, from 4:30pm ET to 5:30pm ET as part of its nationwide #GetVaccinated campaign. The event is open to all staff and is free to attend. Click HERE to register. It will also be livestreamed on AHCA/NCAL’s Facebook page.

US Department of Health and Humans Services’ We Can Do This campaign is a national initiative working hand in hand with trusted leaders and community organizations to continue to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and get more people vaccinated. This campaign offers tailored resources and toolkits for stakeholders to use to provide COVID-19 vaccine information to at-risk populations.

The Baker-Polito Administration, Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg and the Massachusetts State Lottery announced the Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway for residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Fully vaccinated residents 18 and older will have the opportunity to enter to win of five, $1 million cash prizes. Fully vaccinated residents between 12-17 years of age may enter for the chance to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants.

Alliance Health at Rosewood and Brudnick Center for Living in Peabody both partnered with Salem Hospital, Mass General Brigham, and North Shore Physician’s Group to bring the MGB mobile vaccination community care van to their facilities. Coordinated by Stephanie McPherson, Rosewood’s Administrator, Tammy Starion, Brudnick’s DNS and Dr. Larissa Lucas, Medical Director, the mobile vaccine clinics provided an easily accessible way for the facility’s staff, residents, and the community at large to get vaccinated.

The Massachusetts Senior Care Association is celebrating National Nursing Assistants Week, June 17th-June 24th. Mass Senior Care recognizes and acknowledges the valuable contributions made by our dedicated and compassionate Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). We are grateful for all you do to keep those in your care healthy, happy, safe and well.

On today’s DPH weekly call, DPH informed participants that, effective immediately, eye protection is no longer necessary in clinical areas except for when caring for residents in quarantine or isolation, MassHealth today issued Eligibility Operations Memo 21-09 in regard to flexibilities implemented March 18, 2020 that will remain in effect through the end of the COVID-19 Federal Public Health Emergency, and Commonwealth “Mass VaxMillions” Vaccine Lottery Program.

DPH released updated guidance on visitation conditions, communal dining, and congregate activities, and the next weekly DPH call with providers is scheduled for Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

The Commissioner of the Department of Public Health is expected to release a memo today outlining which Public Health Orders would be rescinded effective June 15, 2021 (tomorrow) and which will be extended, last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released updated reporting requirements for recipients of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments, and MassHealth issues additional guidance COVID-related Patient Paid Adjustments (PPA).