Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Releases Revised Guidance Date: July 30, 2020 DPH Releases Revised Guidance on “Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency” and “Allowing Non-Essential Personnel in Long-Term Care Facilities” Today, DPH released two memos related to care of long-term care residents during the COVID-19 Emergency. Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Emergency includes revisions to screening of employees upon re-entry to the building

Thomas Lavallee, Chief Operating Officer of Alliance Health Management Services, LLC and the Chair of Mass Senior Care Association, authored an op-ed, Mass. Nursing Homes Need a Permanent Fix, which was published in Commonwealth Magazine calling for a new model for long-term care, one which prioritizes high quality and high standards for nursing home residents and caregivers.

The FY20 MassHealth Direct Care Webform is now operational. The due date for filing the report is Friday, July 31, 2020.

The Department of Health and Humans Services recently announced that health care providers who received more than $750,000 in federal awards from the Provider Relief Funds (PRF) will be subject to a single audit or a program specific audit.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives adopted two nursing home amendments to HB 4888, An Act to Promote Resilience in our Health Care System. Passage of Amendment #20 and Amendment #70 would help to provide critical tools and resources for nursing facilities to protect their residents and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Legislature Approves 3-Month State Budget; Clarification on Outdoor Visitation Date: July 29, 2020 Legislature Approves 3-Month State Budget through October 31 st and Proposes to Extend the Formal Session The Legislature has enacted and sent to the Governor an interim $16.5 billion budget that will keep state government funded through the end of October. Mass Senior Care continues to work aggressively with lawmakers and the Baker

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Updated FAQs on Baseline and Surveillance Testing and OIG Updates Workplans to Include Covid-19 in Nursing Homes Date: July 29, 2020 EOHHS Releases Updated FAQs on Baseline and Surveillance Testing EOHHS has released updated FAQs related to baseline and surveillance testing of staff. FAQ #20 relates specifically to the surveillance testing schedule facilities should use if there are delays in baseline staff testing results. Office of

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Reporting Deadline Extended to August 5 th ; Free Testing Now Available in Eight Additional Communities; Weekly DPH Call Reminder Date: July 27, 2020 DPH Retrospective Reporting Deadline Extended to August 5th Due to technical issues that have occurred with the REDCap reporting system over the last week, the DPH is extending the deadline for retrospective reporting to Wednesday, August 5th for nursing homes, rest

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: Public Health Emergency Extended; CMS Releases FAQ for POC Testing Instrument; Governor Baker Issues Travel Order Date: July 24, 2020 Public Health Emergency Extended Yesterday, HHS formally extended the COVID-19 pandemic Public Health Emergency for another 90 days. The extension ensures that the COVID-19 related regulatory and reimbursement blanket waivers are extended. This includes waivers of staff training requirements, the 3-day stay and spell of illness