The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a revised Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Booklet. It includes information on: Elements of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System SNF Quality Reporting Program SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program Source: CMS

The award-winning, evidence-based Bathing Without a Battle training on person-centered bathing for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is now accessible online free of charge. The interactive training provides 2½ hours of free continuing education credit for nurses and 2 hours of free credit for nursing assistants. Students who plan to enter long-term care or geriatric home care are also encouraged to participate in the online training. Training can be accessed through the website www.bathing withoutabattle.unc.edu. Once registered, users

Mass Senior Care Association is reinstating quarterly meetings for the Human Resources Group, as detailed in the 2017 HR Group Meeting Schedule. Please contact Carolyn Blanks directly if there are specific topics and/or speakers you would like to see featured at future meetings. Mass Senior Care members may be also be interested in a free upcoming one-hour webinar on February 2 nd, “Marijuana in the Workplace:Navigating Potential Potholes” presented by Attorney David Wilson of the employment law firm Hirsch Roberts

Limited Space is available for this meeting - please RSVP today! Mass Senior Care will convene a meeting on Tuesday, January 24th from 10am to 12pm at the Mass Senior Care Office in Waltham for long term care facility members potentially affected by DPH’s proposal to eliminate a licensure ‘grandfathering’ provision for facilities constructed on or prior to March 19, 1968. At the meeting, Mass Senior Care President Tara Gregorio and Director of Regulatory Affairs Helen Magliozzi will provide an

Join AHCA/NCAL and your long term and post-acute care colleagues for two upcoming events at the beautiful Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista @ Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida. This year, for your convenience, AHCA/NCAL is holding both the 2nd Annual Quality Summit and the 2017 Independent Owners (IO) Leadership Conference at the same place in the same week. Attend one, or get more bang for your buck and save $50 when you register for both conferences. The Quality Summit

Mass Senior Care is offering a free webinar to members on the use of marijuana in the workplace. Presented by Attorney David Wilson of the employment law firm Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP, this 60 minute webinar will cover: Update on medical & recreational marijuana laws Conflicting state and federal laws Accommodation policies On-premises use or impairment Drug-free workplace policies Marijuana in the Workplace: Navigating Potential Potholes With Your Employees Complimentary Webinar for MSCA Members February 2, 2017 at 12:00 PM

Governor Charlie Baker is expected to release, as part of his FY 2018 budget recommendation, a series of measures to control rising state health care costs, including imposing a renewed 'Fair Share Contribution' assessment on employers if they fail to offer health insurance. According to the State House News Service, Governor Baker’s plan would impose fines on businesses that do not cover at least 80% of their workers and share at least 60% of the premium cost with employees. It

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released its updated list, which reflects all OIG exclusions and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in December 2016. This new file is meant to replace the updated LEIE database file available for download last month. Individuals and entities that have been reinstated to the federal health care programs are not included in this file. The updated files are posted on the OIG’s website

As of July 1, 2016, electronic submission of staffing data through the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) is mandatory for all Long Term Care Facilities. Long Term Care Facilities have up to 45 days after the end of the quarter to submit data for Federal Fiscal Quarter 1 (October 1, 2016-December 31, 2016). The final submission file for this quarter is due on February 14, 2017. Long Term Care Facilities are encouraged to submit early to avoid system delays. Please note that

Mass Senior Care Association and more than 20 groups joined together last week to form the Massachusetts Coalition for Coverage and Care. The Coalition's mission is to protect the gains in access to care, health, and health equity that have resulted from near universal health coverage in the Commonwealth. Other coalition members include representatives from hospitals, doctors, insurers, employers, health policy experts, and consumer advocates who have banded together by pushing back against efforts to repeal President Barack Obama's signature