E-News Update Articles

On Monday, September 17th, leaders from several Massachusetts health care organizations, including Mass Senior Care, addressed a crowd of over 100 people from across the Commonwealth who came together to mark the state’s 12th annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day. The crowd, which included seniors, clinicians, community advocates and state officials, gathered at the State House to raise awareness that falls are a growing public health issue. The Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition continues to work with individuals and organizations to advocate

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, is pleased to announce a free webinar designed for long-term care facility staff interested in or currently reporting C. difficile data in NHSN entitled, “ Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s External Validation of Long-term Care Facility (LTCF) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Data”. This free webinar will be held on September 27, 2018 from 12:00pm -1:00pm. Webinar topics include: Presentation of results from MDPH’s external validation of

EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders announced the creation of the Massachusetts Sepsis Consortium, a public-private partnership of more than 25 organizations, including Mass Senior Care, to collectively address the public health threat sepsis presents. The Massachusetts Sepsis Consortium will: identify and disseminate strategies to advance the prompt diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in all healthcare settings; increase awareness about sepsis prevention, symptoms, and when to seek medical care; and recommend an approach for tracking trends in sepsis morbidity and mortality statewide

Mass Senior Care President Tara Gregorio issued a letter to Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Spilka and members of the Legislature urging the Administration and Legislature to dedicate a portion of the state fiscal year 2018 surplus revenue to support quality nursing home care and a living wage increase for our dedicated front-line caregivers who deserve to be paid a living wage. Gregorio’s letter noted that, as a result of years of underfunding, Massachusetts nursing facilities are in the midst of

Please join Mass Senior Care, the Department of Public Health and the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman for a webinar on November 19 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm to discuss the federal and state regulations related to a resident’s right to smoke in long-term care facilities. This webinar will discuss a resident’s right to reasonable accommodation and resident safety and health. Please note: This webinar will not include a discussion regarding medical and/or recreational marijuana. The

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) yesterday issued a Notice of Proposed Agency Action, which would update Medicaid nursing facility rates in FY 2019. EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders presented her FY 2019 proposal to the Mass Senior Care Association Board of Directors and indicated that the regulation represents the agency's first step in a short-term stabilization package totaling $30 million in additional spending beginning October 1, 2018. The Secretary also committed to immediately begin working with the

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome our new members to the 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. Mass Senior Care members are encouraged to contact Associate Members when they are in need of long term care products and services. You can find all of our Associate Members listed on our website, www.maseniorcare.org/preferred-vendors. Associate Members: Cintas

Join colleagues from across the state at our 2018 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 8th at the DCU Center in Worcester. This year's theme, "Shaping the Future of Long Term Care: It’s All About Quality,” will feature keynote presentations from U.S. Congressman Richard Neal and Mark Parkinson, President & CEO, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The afternoon session will include a Department of Public Health Presentation on the SPOT Program. Led by Katherine

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) today issued a Notice of Proposed Agency Action, which would update Medicaid nursing facility rates in FY 2019. EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders presented her FY 2019 proposal to Mass Senior Care Association Board of Directors and indicated that the regulation represents the agency's first step in a short-term stabilization package.

Yesterday afternoon, the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) released proposed regulations to implement the SFY 2019 budget requirement directing the Governor to develop a hardship waiver program for the Employer Medical Assistance Contribution (EMAC) Supplement.

MassHealth will be making changes to the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) process required of all nursing facility admissions in October 2018. To help all involved entities – nursing facilities, hospitals, and ASAPs – switch to the new process as smoothly as possible and stay compliant with the PASRR rules, MassHealth will be conducting PASRR trainings in the next several weeks. Due to overwhelming demand, two additional sessions are being offered for nursing facilities: Location Address Primary Audience Dates

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released revisions to the Long Term Care Survey Process (LTCSP) Procedure Guide and the LTC Survey FAQs. Other revisions include the LTC Survey Pathways and the LTCSP Initial Pool Care Areas which can be accessed on the CMS website.

A team of nationally recognized long term care researchers from Brown University led by Stefan Gravenstein, MD, MPH, and Vincent Mor, PhD, are undertaking a large-scale quality improvement study to evaluate the impact of the annual influenza vaccine on long term care residents' hospitalization risk for the 2018 influenza season. Nursing centers that meet eligibility and agree to participate will be asked to complete a short survey and receive financial compensation of $150. If you are interested in participating in

MassHealth will be making changes to the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) process required of all nursing facility admissions in October 2018. To help all involved entities – nursing facilities, hospitals, and ASAPs – switch to the new process as smoothly as possible and stay compliant with the PASRR rules, MassHealth will be conducting PASRR trainings in the next several weeks. The training will be held at the following locations: Location Address Primary audience Dates Time Mount Saint Vincent

As noted in an earlier E-News Update, MassHealth is actively working on a waiver request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would, among other objectives, seek the flexibility to significantly increase enrollment in One Care and Senior Care Options (SCO) programs. This includes potential passive enrollment into SCO programs of all individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Mass Senior Care has expressed serious concerns to MassHealth in regard to the possibility of extending

The Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes was previously developed as an instructor-led training conducted by nursing home staff for nurse aides. The Hand in Hand training is now be available as a self-paced, online training and is available to download for use as an instructor-led course. The updated Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes is available on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) Integrated Surveyor Training Website (ISTW). For help with

The National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement will host a call on Dementia Care: Opioid Use & Impact for Persons Living with Dementia Call on September 18, 2018 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm ET. During this call, providers will gain insight on opioid use in the post-acute and long-term care setting and learn about the impact of opioid use on persons living with dementia. Additionally, CMS will share updates on the progress of the National

On August 10, 2018, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a bill substantially limiting the use of non-competition agreements in Massachusetts. The law will only apply to non-competition agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2018, and with some exceptions will apply to both employees and independent contractors. It also broadly applies to independent contractors and includes any “forfeiture for competition” agreement.

Mass Senior Care invites staff at member facilities to participate in various committees designed to share information on the topics of clinical quality, regulatory, human resources and finance and reimbursement. This information and feedback will assist MSCA staff with developing policy positions and prioritizing strategic initiatives. Committee meetings are held in Mass Senior Care’s office in Waltham. Facility members are invited to participate. If you are interested in attending one of the upcoming committee meetings, please contact Jennifer Chen. September

As part of the Baker Administration’s regulatory review and efforts to provide short-term regulatory relief to the nursing home provider community, the Public Health Council authorized the Department of Public Health to promulgate revisions to 105 CMR 153.000, Licensure Procedure and Suitability Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities.These revisions became effective August 24, 2018. Mass Senior Care supported the adoption of the regulations which address many of the concerns Mass Senior Care members and other stakeholders put forth including removal of

PointRight, a Mass Senior Care Associate Member, invites all Mass Senior Care members to participate in an upcoming webinar, Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM): The Basics, on Thursday, September 13, 2018 from 2:00pm-3:00pm EDT. This webinar will provide an overview of the basics of PDPM and will discuss the potential impact of this change on facilities’ care processes, and identify areas with a potential for error with recommendations for avoiding them. Please click here for more information on PointRight's upcoming PDPM

Fourth quarter FY 2017 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs) are available for hospices, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs), Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Long-term Acute Care Hospitals (LTCHs). These reports summarize provider-specific data statistics for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper payments. Use your data to support internal auditing and monitoring activities. For instructions on obtaining your PEPPER, read the Secure PEPPER Access Guide. Visit the PEPPER

The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) has updated its work plan and included a new nursing center staffing level review. The August 2018 update indicates that OIG will examine nursing staffing levels reported by facilities to the Payroll-Based Journal and CMS's efforts to ensure data accuracy and improve resident quality of care by both enforcing minimum requirements and incentivizing high quality staffing above minimum requirements.

In the fall of 2017, Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIOs) launched Healthcare Navigation programs that offer a good solution for Medicare fee-for-service patients who need help navigating the health care system. Through this free program, BFCC-QIOs connect Medicare patients, as well as their families and caregivers with the resources and support they need to understand what care is needed and how to access it. You can learn about this free service provided by BFCC-QIOs for Medicare

Mass Senior Care is extremely concerned that the ballot initiative would exacerbate the current nurse shortage in long term care facilities, as long term care nurses would be recruited to hospitals in order to meet the mandated staffing requirements proposed in Question 1.

Please see below for updated email contact information for the Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification: Sherman Lohnes, Director - sherman.lohnes@state.ma.us Michelle Bramante, Certification Unit Manager - Michelle.bramante@state.ma.us Cathy Congo, North Regional Manager - catherine.congo@state.ma.us Patrice Faysal , South Regional Manager - patrice.faysal@state.ma.us Andrew (“Drew”) LeRoy, West Regional Manager - andew.leroy@state.ma.us Beth Scheffler, Complaint Unit Manager - Beth.scheffler@state.ma.us

The new law includes a comprehensive set of provisions designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s illness in Massachusetts.

Annual Performance Score Reports for the FY 2019 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) program year are now available. SNFs with eligible stays during the CY 2017 performance period can retrieve reports via the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) System. Review and submit correction requests for your performance score and ranking information by August 31 at 11:59 pm. For More Information: SNF VBP Annual Performance Score Report Memo, Program FAQ , Contact SNFVBPinquiries@cms.hhs.gov.

A 2016 Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report noted that providers may not be informing CMS of ownership changes. Providers must update their enrollment information to reflect changes in ownership within 30 days. Owners are individuals or corporations with a 5 percent or more ownership or controlling interest. Failure to comply could result in revocation of your Medicare billing privileges. Click here for additional information and resources.

With September less than a month away, the Mass Senior Care Association Fall Education Calendar is taking shape with educational offerings for all levels of staff. Registration is now open, please click on the links below to register online or download a registration form. September 25 – MDS 3.0 Updates for October 1, 2018, Presented in Partnership with Harmony Healthcare International (HHI), 8:30 am - 11:45 am, Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center, Boxboro. Click here to register online or

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 July 2018.

In February 2016, the Commissioner of Public Health announced a series of initiatives aimed at fostering quality care delivery in skilled nursing facilities across Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) recognized an opportunity to improve care delivery by strengthening resident and family councils and enhancing resident and family engagement. The Strengthening Resident and Family Councils Initiative launched in March 2017 in an effort to develop, enhance, and sustain Resident and Family Councils by providing education and training opportunities

CMS has released the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Confidential Performance Score Reports, which contains each SNFs payment adjustment for FY 2019 along with information on rehospitalization rates and scores used to calculate payment adjustments beginning October 1, 2018.

Building on its 33 year legacy of assisting long term care staff in furthering their education, the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation is proud to announce its 2018 Foundation Scholars. This year's class of 36 exceptional awardees include Certified Nursing Assistants, nurses, admissions, dietary and other facility staff who will use their scholarships to further their professional development and leadership in the long term care profession. The 2018 Foundation Scholars represent a broad cross-section of staff and facilities across Massachusetts among

As part of the Baker Administration's regulatory review and efforts to provide short-term regulatory relief to the nursing home provider community, the Public Health Council yesterday authorized the Department of Public Health (DPH) to promulgate revisions to 105 CMR 153.000, Licensure Procedure and Suitability Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities.

The National Quality Award Program is pleased to announce that the 2019 application packets are now available online. In addition, the 2019 program calendar and submission checklist have been posted to each award level page. This is an opportunity to show residents, family members and the community-at-large your organization's commitment to continuous quality improvement, and to establish recognition on a national level. Get ready to begin your journey today! Please visit the Bronze, Silver or Gold application pages to download

In March 2018, Mass Senior Care began a quality initiative project to identify the most frequently cited deficiencies in Massachusetts long-term care facilities to obtain a better understanding of the reasons for these deficiencies as well as to identify trends.

CMS adopted the federal fiscal year 2019 (FFY 2019) Medicare SNF PPS rule. The final rule establishes a market basket increase of 2.4 percent, a figure statutorily mandated by Congress, and will start October 1, 2018. CMS also finalized a payment system called the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM).

Nursing facilities must submit the Final Compliance report by July 31, 2018. The URL to login to the webform is: https://www.uenter.org/nf/.

The National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement is hosting a call on Tuesday, September 18 from 1:30 to 3 pm ET on Dementia Care: Opioid Use & Impact for Persons Living with Dementia. Register for this Medicare Learning Network event. During this call, gain insight on opioid use in the post-acute and long-term care setting. Also, learn about the impact of opioid use on persons living with dementia. Additionally, CMS shares updates on the progress

Governor Baker today signed into law the State Fiscal Year 2019 (SFY 2019) budget, which maintains last year's $7.5 million funding increase, adds $12.8 million in new spending on nursing home care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated the Nursing Home Compare (NHC) website with staffing data from the first quarter of 2018. The following measures on NHC have been updated based on PBJ data from January 1 - March 31, 2018

PLEASE ASK GOVERNOR BAKER TO SIGN INTO LAW MEDICAID LINE ITEM 4000-0641, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE CRITICALLY NEEDED FUNDING FOR QUALITY NURSING HOME CARE Governor Baker's telephone number is 617-725-4005. Background: Governor Charlie Baker is currently reviewing the Legislature's FY 2019 Budget, which includes $12.8 million in new spending for nursing home care. The Governor has until Saturday, July 28th to either sign, veto or return with amendment portions of the budget. Action: Please call Governor Charlie Baker's office TODAY to

Yesterday, legislative leaders agreed on a FY 2019 spending proposal, which includes $12.8 million in new spending on nursing home care and a MSCA-sponsored requirement that the Governor develop a hardship waiver program for the EMAC Supplement.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to offer Associate Members sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor booths for the upcoming 2018 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 8th at the DCU Center in Worcester. This year's featured speakers are U.S. Congressman Richard Neal and Governor Mark Parkinson, President & CEO of American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). Don't miss this opportunity – these sponsorships can promote your business, increase awareness of your products and services, and help

In response to a request for clarification from Mass Senior Care to the CMS Survey Development Team in February on F700 Bedrails, Mass Senior Care received the following response: "Appendix PP defines bedrails as

Mass Senior Care is forwarding the following message from the Board of Registration in Nursing (Board). The Board no longer issues paper license renewal reminders or paper licenses. The Board will use email to communicate renewal reminders and important changes in statute, regulations and policies related to nursing. FAILURE TO PROVIDE A WORKING EMAIL ADDRESS WILL PREVENT YOU FROM RECEIVING THESE IMPORTANT UPDATES. To add or change your email address, log onto https://www.mass.gov/how-to/update-your-nursing-license-information. The data base does not work w/iPhones

This week, CommonWealth Magazine published an op-ed, " Nursing home sector on verge of collapse" authored by Matt Salmon, CEO of SALMON Health & Retirement and Chairman of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association. In response to the current financial conditions of long term care facilities, Salmon calls on the state and federal government to make meaningful investments to stabilize the skilled nursing facility sector. "Greater investment is needed immediately to prevent further erosion of the state's nursing home system. We

Mass Senior Care's Finance and Reimbursement Committee scheduled for Friday, July 20th has been rescheduled to Friday, September 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Mass Senior Care office in Waltham. Please contact Jennifer Chen if you have any questions.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a revised version of QSO-17-30 that clarifies expectations for providers, accrediting organizations, and surveyors on requirements to reduce Legionella risk in health care center's water systems. This memorandum replaces S&C-17-30 released on June 2, 2017, and revised on June 9, 2017. The memo indicates that facilities must have water management plans and documentation that ensure each center: Conducts a facility risk assessment related to Legionella and other opportunistic waterborne pathogens