Today's memo includes: MassHealth Updates: (1) Supplemental Payments and (2) New Rules for Eligibility – Self Attestation; Today’s CMS Call; OSHA Updates, and a PBJ Update

Today's memo includes updates on: DoN Program Moratorium on New LTC Beds; DPH Weekly Call; Massachusetts Crisis Standards of Care Advisory Committee and New PPE Donation Website

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Issues Updated Guidance Date: April 6, 2020 In this memo we are providing you with several updates related to DPH guidance on the use of PPE, caring for residents with presumed or confirmed COVID-19 and other important memos. Please continue to visit our dedicated COVID-19 webpage for resources and updates. Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment : The DPH has released comprehensive guidance, based upon the Centers for

Today the Massachusetts Senior Care Association launched a website for donations of PPE for nursing home staff fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. All donations will directly go to nursing homes most in need. Please visit www.maseniorcare.org/ppe.

In this memo we are providing you with several updates related to DPH testing criteria, steps to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in your facility and making plans for cohorting residents. Please continue to visit our dedicated COVID-19 webpage for resources and updates.

The CARES Act includes funding for a small business loan program called the Paycheck Protection Program. The program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020 and the application process starts today, April 3rd.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: CMS Issues New Recommendation to Nursing Homes and DPH Releases Guidance on Verbal Consent for MOLST and Revised Guidance for HCP with Known Exposure to COVID-19 Date: April 3, 2020 In this memo we are providing you with several updates related to CMS' new recommendations to nursing homes, DPH guidance on verbal consent for MOLST, DPH revised guidance on health care personnel with known exposure to COVID-19

It is widely predicted by public health authorities that despite all of our collective mitigation efforts, the number of COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents and frontline caregivers will surge along with the statewide surge. Our number one priority is to provide you with the support and resources necessary to keep our facility staff safe and our residents well cared for.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced another measure to free up the attention of providers as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.