The Massachusetts Senior Care Association looks forward to celebrating National Nursing Assistants Week which kicks off on Thursday, June 17th. This annual celebration is an opportune time to formally recognize and acknowledge the valuable contributions made by members of your staff every day—especially the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who provide quality care to residents.

Beginning August 2020, Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) resumed post-payment reviews of items and services with dates of service before March 2020. MACs may now begin conducting post-payment medical reviews for later dates of service.

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has established a webpage which consolidates relevant coronavirus and COVID-19 information and answers questions from the public about the EEO laws and COVID-19.

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is thrilled to announce the 2021 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award recipients. This year, 194 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), 39 assisted living (AL) communities, and 3 combined SNF/AL providers in 42 states achieved the Bronze Award! Three Mass Senior Care member facilities have been recognized this year, including Broad Reach Rehab at Liberty Commons in North Chatham, John Adams HealthCare Center in Quincy and Ledgewood Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center in Beverly.

This memo discusses CHIA updated surveillance testing reporting – streamlined reporting survey and new NIOSH guidance on N-95 respirators

Members are updated on Governor Baker's bill addressing unemployment insurance rate relief and COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave program and the DPH weekly call.

EOHHS today issued MassHealth Bulletin 164/May 2021, updating COVID-19 Ongoing Surveillance Testing Requirements. Under this Bulletin, facilities will be required to report to CHIA weekly, with the first week running from Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 7 am through Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 6.59 am.

This memo addresses clarification on COVID-19 vaccine education.

Today, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders announced that after serving as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health for over 6 years, Commissioner Monica Bharel is stepping down effective June 18. Appointed by Governor Baker in 2015, the Commissioner has steered the Department of Public Health through significant public health challenges including the opioid epidemic, vaping associated lung disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and the COVID-19 pandemic.