MassHealth has developed a checklist as a helpful tool for applicants, and individuals who are assisting applicants, to correctly and successfully complete a MassHealth Long-Term-Care Application. Please clickhere to access the checklist.

Over the last year, Mass Senior Care members have actively participated in on-going discussions with MassHealth regarding the new PASRR 1 form, which will go into effect on November 13, 2018. While many of Mass Senior Care's recommendations were included in the revised form, we continue to work with MassHealth and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation and that, importantly, facilities have adequate information from acute care hospitals to properly complete PASRR 1 Form. In its October 19th webinar

CMS has provided updated rankings for all SNFs included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 program year. A list of each SNF’s incentive payment multiplier and updated ranking can be found on the SNF VBP website. The incentive payment multiplier applicable to each SNF is unchanged from the multiplier that CMS previously included in the SNF’s FY 2019 Annual Performance Score Report. That multiplier will be used to adjust the Federal per diem rate otherwise applicable to the SNF for

The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has scheduled a public hearing on the EMAC Supplement Hardship Waiver, for November 19 th at 10 am at the Charles F. Hurley Building, 19 Staniford Street in Boston. The hearing will provide an opportunity for interested parties to present comments on the DUA Hardship Waiver regulation. As you know, the SFY 2019 budget act required DUA to develop a hardship waiver process for an employer experiencing a financial hardship due to its

In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 110 of the Acts of 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DoR) has issued a new Health Insurance Reporting Disclosure (HIRD) form that is due by November 30, 2018. The HIRD annual reporting requirement is administered by MassHealth and DoR through the employer’s DoR’s MassTaxConnect (MTC) account. Employers may complete the HIRD form by logging into their MTC Withholding Tax account and selecting the “File health insurance responsibility disclosure” hyperlink under the account

Mass Senior Care Association recently added new program offerings, including an ICD 10 coding seminar in December and a repeat of the popular Geri-Care Behavioral Safety for Caregivers program in early January. Please click on the links below to register or download a registration form. 11/8 MASS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm - DCU Center, Worcester, MA. Facility Members please click here to download a registration form. EXHIBIT BOOTHS ARE SOLD OUT

Annual flu vaccination is the most important measure we can take to prevent seasonal influenza infection. In an effort to increase the overall flu vaccination rate of employees in nursing homes, currently at 78%, Mass Senior Care is hosting a flu clinic at its Annual Meeting & Trade Show next Thursday, November 8 th. The clinic will be open from 7:30 am – 11:30 am in Meeting Room XX on the 3 rd floor of the DCU Center. All attendees

The Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes was previously developed as an instructor-led training conducted by nursing home staff for nurse aides. The Hand in Hand training is now available as a self-paced, online training and available to download for use as an instructor-led course. The updated Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes is available on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) Integrated Surveyor Training Website (ISTW). For help with registration and

The Intent to Apply (ITA) for the 2019 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Awardapplication cycle is closing soon! The deadline to submit an ITA is November 8, 2018 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. AHCA/NCAL encourages you to submit an ITA through the Quality Award Portal here before the deadline. More information about the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, the benefits of submitting an ITA and key dates are listed below and available at ahcancal.org/qualityaward. If you have any questions, please feel free