The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a letter ​yesterday alerting health care providers to stop using certain N95 respirators manufactured by one specific company, Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacturing Co.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is sharing the announcement for the upcoming free, virtual X-waiver training for long-term care facility (LTCF) medical director(s) and other prescribers who treat residents at your facility. 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 highly recommended, nonetheless.

The September 30th Provider Relief Fund (PRF) deadline for the first reporting period is quickly approaching. The PRF Reporting Portal opened on July 1, 2021, for providers who need to report the use of PRF payments in Reporting Period 1. HRSA notes in a recent reporting reminder and new resources announcement, please click to learn more.

Reminder the September 30th Provider Relief Fund (PRF) deadline for the first reporting period is quickly approaching, and Mass Senior Care is asking members to join us in urging Governor Baker to require ALL healthcare and eldercare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Mass Senior Care asks members to urge Governor Baker to require ALL healthcare and eldercare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a MassHealth reminder about MassHealth copayments, and nursing homes are invited to attend a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call hosted by CMS and the CDC on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, 4:00pm-4:45pm ET.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, and nursing homes are invited to attend a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call hosted by CMS and the CDC on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, 4:00pm-4:45pm ET.

DPH released guidance on COVID-19 additional dose vaccination for immunocompromised residents. Pursuant to the CDC guidance, it is recommended that long-term care residents with moderate to severe immune compromise receive a third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, and on Tuesday, August 24th, Mass Senior Care is hosting a webinar, Ask the Experts: Legal Update on the Massachusetts Nursing Home Staff Vaccination Mandate.

With the recent announcements from Governor Baker and CMS regarding mandating nursing facility employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Massachusetts Senior Care Association has long supported and continues to advocate for a statewide vaccine mandate for all health care workers.

Governor Baker today issued an executive order requiring all state employees under his authority to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 17.

Governor Baker today issued an executive order requiring all state employees under his authority to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 17. Mass Senior Care has confirmed this requirement includes nursing facility state surveyors.