Today's memo includes COVID-19 updates on Medicaid supplemental payments; Infection Control Competency Checklist; CMS Updates and DPH Weekly Call Reminder

Mass Senior Care provided members with an update on Medicaid Supplemental Payments which would provide significant additional funding for nursing homes to address the COVID-19 pandemic surge.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association has partnered with MIT’s COVID-19 Policy Alliance to stand up a Long Term Care Coordinating Center to assist member facilities during this crisis. Mass Senior Care staff have been working closely with MIT’s COVID-19 Policy Alliance – a team of MIT Sloan School of Management faculty and experts, led by Professors Kate Kellogg, Simon Johnson and Retsef Levi.

Maximizing the use of technology has been critical to keeping long term care residents and staff educated about COVID-19 and connected to their loved ones and communities. Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to share its online video library and we encourage you to view and share the videos described below.

Mass Senior Care will be offering a complimentary webinar, "Federal Funding Assistance for COVID-19 Response and Recovery" on Monday, April 27th from 4:00-5:00 pm. Featuring experts from Hagerty Consulting, this webinar will review the federal funding opportunities for disaster relief programs.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey launched a new website, www.FrontlineMA.org to provide health care workers and first responders in Massachusetts with key resources. The website in collaboration with HubSpot and IDEO, is in response to the urgent need for centralized information for frontline workers including safe housing, hotels, self-care, and emergency child care services.

Last week, Barry and Mary Giller of Milford, MA, a husband and wife duo, were the first patients discharged from Beaumont Rehab and Skilled Nursing Center in Worcester after fully recovering from COVID-19.

Food = Gratitude Project, a campaign initiated by the Massachusetts Health Council, brings meals to staff working in long term care facilities, community health centers and YMCA child care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the Food=Gratitude Project delivered meals to The Boston Home in Dorchester and next week will be partnering with Christopher House in Worcester.

In this memo we are providing you with updates on: Additional Provider Relief Funds Distributed; Command Center Halts Self-Test Kits for Nursing Homes, Rest Homes and Assisted Living Residences; Update on Pending Requirement for National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Reporting; Updated: Steps to Limit COVID-19 Spread and Outbreaks in Long Term Care; and Resource for Staff to Embrace Social Distancing