Mass Senior Care is offering a robust calendar of upcoming educational program to provide long term care staff with the most up-to-date information on clinical, regulatory, financial and legal issues. The programs below are now open for registration, please info@maseniorcare.org if you need additional information.

CMS officials have announced that all nursing home staff must be vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid program, and testing and vaccination mandate reminders.

CHIA updated the Surveillance Testing Reporting Requirements pursuant to the Department of Public Health’s guidance issued on August 4, 2021, Updates to Long-Term Care Surveillance Testing, the DPH has rescinded the Updates for Patients Receiving COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies Therapeutic Infusions, Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab and REGEN-COV (Casirimab/Imdevimab), memorandum dated April 13, 2021, effective August 16, 2021, and Mass Senior Care Webinar: Ask the Experts: Legal Update on the Massachusetts Nursing Home Staff Vaccination Mandate

The DPH has updated COVID-19 guidance for healthcare providers in response to the increasing number of cases and community transmission in Massachusetts, and a reminder the next DPH monthly call with providers is scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

The DPH released updated guidance on Updated COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement and also released an update to the Comprehensive PPE Guidance, and in an effort to support members with surveillance staff testing, Mass Senior Care has worked with Pro EMS Solutions and The Broad Institute to establish a program for long term care providers to access kits, processing and results.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to host our first in-person event – the 2021 Leadership Convention at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster on Cape Cod. Please join us at this premier conference destination that offers a unique forum to exchange ideas, share experiences, earn CEUs and network with long term care professionals. The leadership program will be presented by Steven Littlehale, Chief Innovation Officer and Autumn Kerr, Clinical Consultant Quality Initiatives, Zimmet Healthcare Services Group. Steven Littlehale is an internationally known author and speaker on a broad range of health care and post-acute care topics, Steven’s ability to synthesize complex information to inspire strategic and tactical excellence has been the hallmark of his career and has established his renowned reputation as a highly effective and motivating lecturer. Facility Registration is available for facility members only, please click here for the registration form. Sponsorship Opportunities are available for Associate Members only, please click here for sponsorships.

The Public Health Council yesterday approved proposed emergency amendments to 105 CMR 150.000, Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities, to adopt Emergency Order No. 2021-4 and the Department of Public Health guidance issued on August 4, 2021, pursuant to the Order requiring nursing home personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and a reminder about the MassHire Virtual Job Fair: August 16-20.

In an effort to improve staffing, quality and oversight of facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, six U.S. senators on the Senate Finance and Aging committee earlier this week filed ‘The Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021.’ The legislation would require nursing homes to meet minimum staffing standards and would provide additional federal Medicaid funds to states to support workforce and care improvements.