Update on the COVID-19 recovery bill moving through the legislature: (1) unemployment insurance rate freeze, (2) PPP tax exemption and (3) emergency COVID-19 paid sick leave.

In recognition of Long-Term Care Administrator's Week, Mass Senior Care extends our gratitude and appreciation to all long-term care administrators. We thank you for commitment to providing excellent quality of care and quality of life for the elderly and disabled individuals living in our communities.

Meet David Gachanja, one of the 50,000 dedicated caregivers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic protecting vulnerable nursing home residents. David is a Certified Nursing Assistant at Beaumont Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Worcester and has been a CNA for over 20 years.

Through a moderator led discussion, Cassandra Tribe-Scott will explore the various ways that the pandemic and other aspects of social unrest have and continue to effect long term care staff. Ms. Scott will introduce customizable tools for nursing facility leaders as they provide continued support to staff in the management of their emotional well-being in a post-COVID-19 environment. Register today.

Nursing facilities that are experiencing difficulty securing chair car services may be able to access transportation for MassHealth residents through this program. MassHealth provides non-emergency medical transportation for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory MassHealth members living in the community who are going to MassHealth-covered medical services.

The Commonwealth has revised travel restrictions for individuals that are fully vaccinated. Individuals who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine, more than 14 days ago and who do not have symptoms, do not need to obtain a negative test prior to traveling to, or quarantine upon arrival to, Massachusetts.

On March 10, 2021, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released revised guidance on nursing home visitation during the continued COVID-19 pandemic.

Information on CMS release of revised guidance on nursing home visitation during the continued COVID-19 pandemic, an invitation to register for today’s CMS national nursing home stakeholder call and an update on Massachusetts travel restrictions for individuals fully vaccinated.

An announcement that the Massachusetts Public Health Council voted to approve the proposed revisions to 105 CMR 150.00 Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and MSCA is offering virtual sessions on meeting staff needs for trauma informed care & support in 2021.