E-News Update Articles

Announcements regarding the CMS development of an application template for requests for the use of Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds to provide nursing homes with in-person visitation aids and donated hand sanitizers are available for pick-up on Thursday.

Shares information about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) changes to the reporting requirements and expanded types of providers who could apply for Provider Relief Funds and the updated HHS NHSN Reporting Requirements.

This week the Health Policy Commission's (HPC) hosted their 2020 Annual Health Care Cost Trends Hearing: COVID-19 and the Massachusetts Health Care System – Assessing Impact, Advancing Equity.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association has developed the Resident Care Assistant Onboarding Toolkit for Members offering best practices to assist with hiring and onboarding RCAs.

Members are updated on de-densification summary and timeline for (1) MassHealth Room Density Reporting and (2) DPH proposed NF licensure changes, DPH list of references and resources for flu campaign; DPH Weekly Public Health Report move to Thursday release and infection control resources for Mass. LTC facilities.

On October 5, CMS issued a memo​ regarding compliance with residents’ rights requirement related to nursing home residents’ right to vote. The memo is effective immediately and outlines the regulatory requirements providers are required affirm and support the right of residents to vote.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is conducting a survey to learn how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted Massachusetts citizens and understand how best to provide people with resources and support around COVID-19.

AHCA/NCAL has released a new three-part webinar series on ahcancalED that addresses the extraordinary strains the COVID-19 pandemic has on nursing facility and assisted living residents and staff.

Massachusetts recently announced a new Eviction Diversion Initiative to help households as the eviction moratorium in Massachusetts expires. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has resources available for individuals and families struggling to make rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has developed a list of references and resources for healthcare providers to support the development of influenza campaigns and to guide providers in identifying best practices for increasing Health Care Personnel (HCP) vaccination rates.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association. Our Associate Members have demonstrated their commitment to the senior care provider community by joining Mass Senior Care and participating as exhibitors and sponsors for events and educational conferences.

Members are provided information on MassHealth one week extension deadline for reporting room density in nursing facilities and the update on COVID-19 surveillance testing: CHIA reporting.

An announcement on the CDC vaccine LTC distribution program, a reminder about the weekly DPH call and an invitation to register for the HPPD webinar.

Announcement on DPH updated guidance on the care for COVID-19 recovered residents, Interim COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Plan, and an important webinar - Meeting the New HPPD Requirement: What Nursing Facilities Need to Know.

Updates are provided on the Executive Office of Health and Human Services posting on its nursing facility provider rate webpage the rate year 2021 rate file for each nursing facility, the MassHealth Nursing Facility Bulletin 150, which delineates the requirements for participation for the new targeted Isolation Space Program, and the White House announcement on the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program—a national vaccine distribution program for long term care residents.

Governor Baker yesterday released a revised FY 2021 budget recommendation, proposing a $45.5 billion plan for the fiscal year. The state has been operating on interim budgets for the beginning of the fiscal year, as the Governor and Legislature work to craft a full year budget in light of the COVID-19 revenue uncertainties.

On October 5, CMS issued a memo regarding compliance with residents’ rights requirement related to nursing home residents’ right to vote. The memo is effective immediately and outlines the regulatory requirements providers are required affirm and support the right of residents to vote. The right to vote must not be impeded in any way by a nursing home and its staff. Long term care facilities should have a plan to ensure residents can exercise their right to vote.

Marcum, Mass Senior Care’s 2020 Educational Partner, is presenting a complimentary webinar on Thursday, October 22nd on HHS funding reporting and determination of tranche 3 eligibility. Webinar and registration details are below.

MassHealth this week issued Nursing Facility Bulletin 151 which requires all nursing homes to report the number of rooms by type (single, two-bedded, three-bedded, and four-bedded) within their facility, regardless of whether or not the beds are occupied, as well as the number of residents residing in each room. All nursing facilities must complete the attestation and reporting requirements of Nursing Facility Provider Bulletin 151 by 11:59 p.m. on October 23, 2020, using the prescribed reporting form via a CHIA online survey.

Last week, thousands of long term care professionals, residents, their loved ones and members of the public came together to join in a national moment of silence to honor the tens of thousands of lives lost in long term care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In remembrance and to honor those they lost, Royal Health Group planted magnolia trees, each accompanied by a sitting bench on the facility’s grounds.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has scheduled a public hearing on November 6, 2020,at10:00 a.m. relative to the 2021 Medicaid Rate Regulation (101 CMR 206: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities). EOHHS will invest significant funds in Rate Year 2021 (RY 2021), ranging up to $145 million for quality nursing home care covering (1) a new integrated rate structure for the RY 2021 rate and beyond, and (2) targeted COVID-19 Supplemental Funding. The EOHHS proposal builds upon prior Accountability and Supports programs designed to promote and ensure quality nursing home care. The regulation is expected to be adopted later this month with a retroactive effective date of October 1, 2020. Please note that EOHHS has indicated that it will post on its website 2021 nursing facility rate sheets this week.

An audio recording (ZIP) and transcript (PDF) is now available for the September 22 Medicare Learning Network call on Dementia Care. This call discussed the unique challenges facing nursing home residents living with dementia during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and best practices to support them.

Last week, the Acting Commissioner of Public Health Margret Cooke signed an Order requiring certain personnel to be vaccinated against influenza virus. All long-term care facilities licensed pursuant to G.L. c 111, § 71 must ensure that all personnel are vaccinated against influenza virus by December 31, 2020, unless such administration is medically contraindicated or vaccination is against the individual’s religious beliefs. Personnel -an individual or individuals employed by or affiliated with the facility, whether directly, by contract with another

Members are reminded about the DPH weekly call and provided information about CMS COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls, CMS update on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public reporting tip sheets for Skilled Nursing Facilities and the webinar "Does Your Respiratory Protection Program Meet OSHA Standards?".

AHCA/NCAL has two new online programs in conjunction with Healthcare Academy®. Both programs incorporate a digital competency platform to allow for documentation of live skills demonstration. The digital checklists included in these programs have been designed by industry experts using evidence-based practices to help organizations develop competent and confident staff.

Today's update includes announcements on MassHealth issuing Nursing Facility Bulletin 150, which delineates the requirements for participation for the new targeted Isolation Space Program, CMS release of Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment guidance; DPH HCFRS System upgrade scheduled for October 18, 2020, and invites members to register for an important Respiratory Protection Program webinar.

In 2019, the Department of Public Health (DPH) funded an initiative to reduce challenges to the continuity of care for individuals who receive medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD) at opioid treatment programs and are residents in long-term care facilities. A LTC toolkit was developed that describes physical and psychological symptoms of addiction and treatment modalities, resources, strategies for caring for residents with a history of OUD, and transitions of care.

In an October 4th op-ed for Inside Sources, Tara Gregorio, President of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Mark Parkinson, President & CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living write "For long-term care professionals, COVID-19 has been especially challenging."

Long term care facility (LTCF) users who wish to gain full access to the NHSN surveillance modules, various analytic tools, and data reports must complete the enhanced security clearance known as Secure Access Management Services (SAMS) Level 3. Centers who are only reporting to the COVID-19 module in NHSN likely only have a Level 1 security clearance. Users who complete the identify verification process will be migrated from Level 1 to Level 3 SAMS access and will be issued a SAMS grid care for a more secure NHSN user experience.

As part of its overall 2021 nursing home rate and restructuring package, EOHHS today announced via a DPH memo that, effective immediately, the Determination of Need Program (DoN) Program will accept applications for new long-term care beds if the proposed project meets all of the following five criteria.

The ahcancalED Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO) is on sale through October 31, 2020. Registrants can save $50 off the regular registration price this month by using promo code IPCO2020 when they register.

The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program is pleased to announce the approval of an automatic one-year extension for recipients in their third year of renewal. The Program is making this extension in order to be supportive of members during these challenging times and offering them the opportunity to maintain their active status even if they are not able to apply in 2021.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services earlier this week issued the proposed 2021 Medicaid rate regulation that will invest significant funds in Rate Year 2021 (RY 2021), ranging up to $145 million for quality nursing home care covering (1) a new integrated rate structure for the RY 2021 rate and beyond, and (2) targeted COVID-19 Supplemental Funding.

Provides a follow-up to DPH’s memo October 5th on Point of Care Testing Devices for Nursing Homes and discusses CMS issuing S&C to State Survey Agencies on compliance with residents’ rights related to voting.

Members are provided information on the National Public Health Emergency renewed – COVID-19 waivers extension; mandatory flu vaccination of long-term care personnel, DPH lifting Determination of Need (DoN) moratorium on LTC beds for projects that meet certain criteria, the DPH weekly call, and HHS posting an application form to apply for Phase 3 Provider Relief Fund resources.

The DPH Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality released guidelines on the use of Point of Care testing devices in nursing facilities, in addition, DPH and EOEA released updates to LTC Surveillance Testing and reimbursement for ALR staff testing.

October 5, 2020 COVID-19 update with corrected DPH Guidance Memo

Keeps members informed about continued biweekly testing for nursing homes in EMS Regions 3 and 4, HHS announcement on a new opportunity to apply for Provider Relief Fund resources, modifications to the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments under 2021 Continuing Appropriations Act and the upcoming Webinars.

CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will release a new Point of Care (POC) Laboratory Reporting Pathway within the NHSN LTC COVID-19 Module on October 15, 2020. The new Pathway will enable CMS-certified nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities, to meet the Department of Health and Human Services’ requirement to report SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care antigen test data, and other on-site COVID-19 laboratory testing data, to appropriate federal and state health authorities.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Stephen Esdale, a former MSCA Board Member and past Board Chairman for the American College of Health Care Administrators. Stephen began his career as a nursing home administrator and served as the Vice President of the nursing home division of the Flatley Company for many years.

The Department of Health, Division of Health Care Quality, Facility Licensure and Certification has provided the following updated contacts for the Regional Managers. Nursing homes are encouraged to reach out to the Regional Manager in their area for questions related to any DPH survey.

When a student at a local high school recently tested positive for COVID-19, Bill Bogdanovich, President and CEO of Broad Reach Healthcare in Chatham and President of the Mass Senior Care Foundation, quickly mobilized to help support a testing clinic in town.

As we prepare for a potential resurgence of COVID-19 this fall and winter, it is critically important for all long-term care workers to protect themselves from becoming sick with the flu by getting the flu vaccine. As we well know, staff in long-term care facilities are at an increased risk of acquiring the flu and annual flu vaccination of both residents and staff are essential to preventing outbreaks.

Discusses CDC recent announcement of a new POC Laboratory Reporting Pathway; ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Webinar on Coronavirus Testing, 1 Day Remaining to File Final Filing for the MassHealth COVID-19 Supplemental Payment; DPH Weekly Call Reminder .

Announcements on AHCA/NCAL hosting an “office hour" to answer questions about the new Department of Labor coronavirus leave requirements, influenza vaccination data reporting webinars and upcoming Mass Senior Care Association MDS and QAPI webinar series .

The Massachusetts DPH Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality has updated the memo on Anterior Nares (Nasal Swab) Specimen Collection by Unlicensed Healthcare Personnel.

Ensuring that long term care residents can exercise their constitutional right to vote is of utmost importance. Long term care providers should do everything possible to ensure residents can get the information and materials they need to participate in the election, while also staying safe from COVID-19.

EOHHS has issued a reminder that the Final Filing for the Nursing Facility COVID-19 Supplemental Payment is due no later than September 30, 2020, to account for the manner in which the MassHealth COVID-19 Supplemental Initial Payment for the Up to 50% Program was spent, which provided up to $130 million.

ASPR (HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response) has released a new toolkit on COVID-19 Considerations for Long-Term Care Facilities.

A memo on testing for nursing homes in EMS Regions 3 & 4