The CMS Quality, Safety & Evaluation Portal (QSEP) provides the full curriculum of surveyor training and guidance on health care facility regulations. QSEP is an online platform, and all training is available on-demand.

On May 22, 2023, EOEA Secretary Elizabeth Chen released guidance for assisted living facilities on Best Practices for Preventing the Transmission of Respiratory Viruses, such as COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza.

On May 18th, the U.S. Senate Special Committee issued a new report, titled “Uninspected and Neglected,” detailing the results of a year-long investigation into the capacity of state survey agencies to oversee health and safety standards at the Nation’s 15,000 nursing homes.

Administrative, clinical and operations staff from nursing facilities across the state attended Mass Senior Care’s May 17th Spring Conference & Trade Show at the DCU Center in Worcester.

With the theme of Cultivating Kindness, nursing facilities across the state found creative and fun ways to celebrate National Skilled Nursing Home Week (May 14-20), including box car races, Elvis impersonators, hosting tea parties, planting gardens and donating to local food pantries.

Legislative leadership has appointed the 6-member FY2024 Budget Conference members to reconcile differences between the branches’ separate recommendations.

Four Mass Senior Care member facilities are being recognized with a 2023 Bronze – Commitment in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).

This year, National Certified Nursing Assistants Week is from June 15th to June 21st, 2023. This week aims to celebrate and recognize the incredible work that CNAs do everyday in our nursing facilities and assisted living residences.

On May 31, 2023, ​CMS withdrew all requirements to vaccinate staff for COVID-19. HOWEVER, Massachusetts regulations, under 105 CMR 150.002 D. (11) Requirement for Personnel to Be Vaccinated against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Caused by the Virus SARS-CoV-2, requires each facility to ensure all personnel have received COVID-19 vaccination, unless an individual is subject to an exemption.

MassHealth today via emergency regulation updated the Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Regulation to implement the policy change to the methodology of the COVID-19 Preparedness Payments creating two groups based on two different thresholds.