The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing notifications to facilities that were determined to be out of compliance with Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) requirements for CY 2023, which will affect their FY 2025 Annual Payment Update (APU).

Last week, the Centers for Disease Prevention & Control (CDC) released Updated Recommendations for COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines for 2024-2025.

The DPH and Mass Senior Care continue to encourage nursing facilities to vaccinate residents and staff with the most up to date COVID-19 vaccine.

Over the past 4 weeks, Massachusetts nursing facilities have seen an uptick in resident COVID-19 cases per CDC NHSN data. Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff.

Late yesterday afternoon, the Senate adopted its version of the Long Term Care Reform Bill, SB2889, An Act Relative to Long Term Care and Assisted Living and in doing so rejected the three MSCA-supported amendments.

Steward Health Care today announced plans to close Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer over the next month. According to the Steward announcement, these two hospitals received no qualified bids during the bankruptcy sales process.

Member Update: Understand the Regulatory Requirements Effective August 8 for Compliant Nursing Facility Assessments; US Department of State Announces Visa Retrogression Date of December 1, 2021; REMINDER: 2024 DCC-Q Final Filing Reporting is Due on July 31st

Member Update: Senate Adopts Long Term Care Reform Bill

Member Update: Senate Ways and Means Committee Issues Redrafted Long Term Care Reform Bill; State Imposes Receiver On Three Long-Term Care Centers

Member Update: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; Legislative Conference Committee Reaches Agreement on Workplace Equity Bill; EOHHS Issues Administrative Bulletin 20-24: NF User Fee Form Resubmission Deadline