Memo discusses DPH updated weekly report to remove any long term care deaths attributed to residents who had recovered from COVID, in alignment with the CDC’s NHSN requirements for long term care facilities; the most recent County Positivity Rates released by DPH on April 14, 2021 indicates Barnstable County remains above 5% at 5.14% and Dukes and Nantucket Counties above 5% at 8.31%; CMS and the CDC will hold a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call on Wednesday April 21, 2021; Governor Baker Delays First-Quarter 2021 Unemployment Insurance Payments.

This week, the DPH released updated guidance on Vaccination Options for Long Term Care Residents and Staff following the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program. The updated guidance now permits long-term care staff to receive a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the long-term care facility.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association. Our Associate Members have demonstrated their commitment to the senior care provider community by joining Mass Senior Care and participating as exhibitors and sponsors for events and educational conferences. Mass Senior Care members are encouraged to contact Associate Members when they are in need of long term care products and services. You can find all of our Associate Members listed on our website, www.maseniorcare.org/preferred-vendors.

Join us for a live webinar on May 12, 2021 that will focus on addressing the challenges of returning to pre-pandemic operations. During this webinar we will discuss different approaches to sunsetting 1135 waivers for alarm and fire suppression system testing, emergency storage, emergency preparedness education for staff, and other changes that will expire after the national emergency declaration ends. In addition, learn about trends in survey citations and hot-button issues that may arise when regular life safety surveys resume.

The House Ways and Means (HWM) Committee yesterday released its FY 2022 budget recommendation and Mass Senior Care is pleased to report that the Committee has recommended appropriating funding to set Medicaid nursing facility rates using calendar year 2019 costs. Moving the base year forward to calendar year 2019 will better recognize current costs of care delivery. The base year update would provide at least a $4 per day increase in the base rate. This action builds on the current Medicaid rate modernization initiative which created an integrated base rate that begins to better recognize current resident care costs more accurately.

Members are informed about DPH updated guidance related to monoclonal antibody therapies.

Members are informed that today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement regarding the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recommending a pause in its use out of an abundance of caution and the next DPH weekly call with providers is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.