As a reminder, nursing facilities must update their Facility Assessment (F838) to meet the revised regulations as part of the federal staffing mandate by August 8, 2024.

On July 31, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2025.

Yesterday, the Legislature adjourned formal session leaving unresolved a number of critical initiatives including the over $3 billion Omnibus Economic Development bill, which contained a $50 million Nursing Facility Capital Investment Fund in the House version (H.4804).

The Foundation is still accepting applications for its 2024 awards. Please note that the application and all required components must be submitted online at the same time and received by Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation no later than 4:00 pm today, Friday, August 2, 2024.

Earlier this week, Governor Healey signed into law the FY 2025 state budget, totaling $57.8 billion spending, which includes $40 million over the current FY 2024 Medicaid nursing facility budget appropriation to cover resident care and workforce costs.

Member Update: Boston Globe Editorial on LTC Reform Bill; CMS Leadership National Call – August 1

Member Update: Governor Healey Signs Into Law FY 2025 Budget; Long Term Care Reform Bill Conference Committee Appointed

The July 26, 2024 edition of Stat News includes an opinion piece on the new CMS federal nursing facility minimum standards, authored by two George Washington University School of Nursing Professors, "Without Federal Oversight, Nursing Homes Will Profit Ahead of Care”.

CMS has posted the recording and materials from the Overview of the Early Look Performance Score Report for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program webinar.