Member Updates: CDC Announces NHSN Reporting Relief; HHS BinaxNOW Program to Continue After PHE Ends

Member Updates: Reminder: Ensure Accurate Medicaid Days Reporting on Quarterly User Fee Form; New Option for MassHealth NF Customer Service

On October 1, 2023, MassHealth will transition to a Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) from MMQs. Mass Senior Care is partnering with Celtic Consulting to provide a series of webinars from May – October to help members develop and implement new policies and procedures to ensure accurate and appropriate reimbursement as we simultaneously manage the MMQ process through October

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association. Our members have demonstrated their commitment to the senior care provider community by joining Mass Senior Care and we are grateful for their support.

As a reminder, nursing homes are required to submit HCP influenza data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) by May 15, 2023. The annual healthcare personnel influenza vaccination summary data must be reported through the NHSN HPS Component. As a condition of licensure, all licensed healthcare facilities must: Offer free-of-charge, annual influenza vaccine to all personnel (full and part-time employees, contracted employees, volunteers, house staff and students). Document receipt of influenza vaccine

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is working to modernize its Vital Records and Statistics system with the electronic completion of RN/NP/PA pronouncements

On April 26, 2023, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office released an audit report of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), which reviewed the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. The current audit followed up on deficiencies found in a 2018 Audit Report, completed under the previous administration

On April 26, 2023 The Roadmap to Health Care Safety for Massachusetts was released at the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum. Leaders from health care organizations, patient advocates and policymakers were among the nearly 200 people who attended the public forum in Boston.

The CDC recently updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to provide options for people at higher risk who will benefit from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses and to simplify vaccine schedules.