Resources are shared with members for dealing with the 2nd Surge of COVID-19.

MassHealth has scheduled a 2nd HPPD reporting webinar on Monday, November 23 between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to discuss the new reporting requirements and answer any questions providers may have.

Information on county positivity rates >5% in three counties, CMS alert regarding holiday visitation, DPH Holiday Letter to LTC and congregate care families, and the opportunity for nursing facilities that did not register for the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program with CVS & Walgreens for COVID-19 vaccination via NHSN

A memo on the Department of Public Health update to previously-issued guidance from November 13th regarding admissions, safety protocols and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) release of a one-pager on frequently cited standards related to COVID-19 inspections.

This memo focuses on the MassHealth updated Eligibility Operations Memo on Hospital Presumptive Eligibility, the DPH weekly call, and CMS COVID-19 care site-specific calls – nursing homes.

Memo discusses DPH revised guidance on Public Health Order, DPH updated guidance on Caring for LTC Residents during COVID-19 emergency, MassHealth updated nursing facility bulletin for new targeted Isolation Space Program, nursing home budget amendment included in DPH report and CMS updates.

Now that a second surge of COVID-19 has begun, it is critically important for all long-term care workers to protect themselves from becoming sick with the flu by getting the flu vaccine. As we well know, staff in long-term care facilities are at an increased risk of acquiring the flu and annual flu vaccination of both residents and staff are essential to preventing outbreaks.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed an application template for requests for the use of Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds to provide nursing homes with in-person visitation aids. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has developed a stream-lined nursing home application template for the approval of these funds.

Mass Senior Care has provided public testimony on the following two proposed regulations: Emergency Adoption of MassHealth Nursing Home Rate Regulations/101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities and Proposed Department of Public Health Amendments to 105 CMR 150.000: Standards for Long Term Care Facilities.