Announcement on DPH updated guidance on the care for COVID-19 recovered residents, Interim COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Plan, and an important webinar - Meeting the New HPPD Requirement: What Nursing Facilities Need to Know.

Updates are provided on the Executive Office of Health and Human Services posting on its nursing facility provider rate webpage the rate year 2021 rate file for each nursing facility, the MassHealth Nursing Facility Bulletin 150, which delineates the requirements for participation for the new targeted Isolation Space Program, and the White House announcement on the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program—a national vaccine distribution program for long term care residents.

On October 5, CMS issued a memo regarding compliance with residents’ rights requirement related to nursing home residents’ right to vote. The memo is effective immediately and outlines the regulatory requirements providers are required affirm and support the right of residents to vote. The right to vote must not be impeded in any way by a nursing home and its staff. Long term care facilities should have a plan to ensure residents can exercise their right to vote.

An audio recording (ZIP) and transcript (PDF) is now available for the September 22 Medicare Learning Network call on Dementia Care. This call discussed the unique challenges facing nursing home residents living with dementia during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and best practices to support them.

Last week, thousands of long term care professionals, residents, their loved ones and members of the public came together to join in a national moment of silence to honor the tens of thousands of lives lost in long term care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In remembrance and to honor those they lost, Royal Health Group planted magnolia trees, each accompanied by a sitting bench on the facility’s grounds.

Marcum, Mass Senior Care’s 2020 Educational Partner, is presenting a complimentary webinar on Thursday, October 22nd on HHS funding reporting and determination of tranche 3 eligibility. Webinar and registration details are below.

Last week, the Acting Commissioner of Public Health Margret Cooke signed an Order requiring certain personnel to be vaccinated against influenza virus. All long-term care facilities licensed pursuant to G.L. c 111, § 71 must ensure that all personnel are vaccinated against influenza virus by December 31, 2020, unless such administration is medically contraindicated or vaccination is against the individual’s religious beliefs. Personnel -an individual or individuals employed by or affiliated with the facility, whether directly, by contract with another

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has scheduled a public hearing on November 6, 2020,at10:00 a.m. relative to the 2021 Medicaid Rate Regulation (101 CMR 206: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities). EOHHS will invest significant funds in Rate Year 2021 (RY 2021), ranging up to $145 million for quality nursing home care covering (1) a new integrated rate structure for the RY 2021 rate and beyond, and (2) targeted COVID-19 Supplemental Funding. The EOHHS proposal builds upon prior Accountability and Supports programs designed to promote and ensure quality nursing home care. The regulation is expected to be adopted later this month with a retroactive effective date of October 1, 2020. Please note that EOHHS has indicated that it will post on its website 2021 nursing facility rate sheets this week.