Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to launch the Vote 2022 Campaign to ensure the long term care community has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections. At the November 8, 2022 Election, Massachusetts voters will elect a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, constitutional officers, members of Congress and local elected officials.

In addition to the $115 million contained in the FY23 conference committee budget, the Senate Ways & Means Committee this afternoon released its version of the Omnibus Economic Development Bill which, like the House of Representatives, includes an additional $165 million in vital funding for nursing facilities, and MassHealth posted to COMMBUYS a Question and Answer document on the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Nursing Facility Capital Improvement and Innovation Project Forgivable Loan Program authorized under the state’s ARPA COVID-19 Recovery Act signed into law by Governor Baker on December 13, 2021.

The FY23 Budget Conference Committee has approved $115 million for vital investments for nursing facility direct care staff and patient quality supports, and the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has renewed the declaration that a public health emergency exists​. This is effective July 15, 2022 and will continue for 90 days pursuant to federal law.

The House last night wrapped up a marathon session with the passage of its Omnibus Economic Development Bill. We are pleased to share that the House included $165 million in vital nursing home workforce investments as part of its $4.2 billion Economic Development bill.

On July 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the display copy of the FY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule.

Mass Senior Care Association has collaborated with Jonathan Gruber, Ford Director of Economics at MIT, to develop a Long Term Care Career Advancement Survey. The purpose of this survey is to help us quantify the level of interest in career advancement among CNAs, and perceived barriers to advancement they may need assistance to overcome. Responses to this survey will provide MSCA with critical data needed to promote public policy and identify funding opportunities focused on career advancement of CNAs.