Member Resources

The DPH has released updated clinical guidance for COVID-19 therapeutics, CMS and the CDC will host a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:00 PM, and DPH and Mass Senior Care are strongly urging long-term care facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents by April 30 or as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

Discussion on Monthly ICAR Assessments, the next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled for Thursday, April, 28 2022 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, and MassHealth Business Support Services and LTSS Customer Service will be offering a Webex on May 5th at 1-2:30pm to review the recent changes to the transportation requests for MassHealth members (both fee for service and managed care members) residing in nursing facilities.

Join the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and her leadership team, on April 26, 2022, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm to hear updates on the CMS Strategic Vision and key accomplishments during the first quarter of 2022.

Congratulations to Carla Pepka who was recently recognized with the National Activity Professional of the Year award by the National Association of Activity Professionals. Carla was honored at the Association’s recent Annual Meeting in Minnesota.

Registration is now open for the 2022 MassMAP Annual Education Sessions. This year’s education will be held in-person on May 17, 18 and 19 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at 3 locations throughout the state – Taunton, Waltham, and Springfield.

In response to a recent Mass Senior Care Education Program survey, we are pleased to announce several new seminars designed to help providers refresh their skills and improve their clinical knowledge. We plan to offer virtual QAPI and Director of Nurses Leadership Training so please check our website frequently for updated program offerings.

The Centers for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) yesterday issued the 2021 SNF-CR (nursing facility), the REA-CR (the realty company), and the MGT-CR (management company/central office) cost reports and are now available for submission on the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) website via CHIA Submissions.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to host our first in-person Spring Conference & Trade Show in more than two years on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the DCU Center in Worcester.

he House of Representatives will begin debate on the FY2023 budget next week. Please ask your State Representative to co-sponsor and support Chairman Thomas Stanley's Nursing Facility Workforce Amendment #891.

With the increase in COVID-19 cases in both residents and staff in our nursing facilities, the DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly urge nursing facilities to administer the second COVID-19 booster vaccine to their long-term care residents by April 30 or as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster, and AHCA/NCAL will host a webinar for all members on Thursday, April 21 at 3 PM Eastern to provide tips for drafting and submitting comments on CMS’ FY 2023 SNF Proposed Payment Rule.

DPH is urging providers to ensure that COVID-19 treatments are offered to all patients eligible to receive them, which is nearly 40% of Massachusetts residents with a risk factor for severe disease, and Long-Term Care Facilities are strongly encouraged to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents by April 30 or as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration that a public health emergency (PHE) exists, and with the FDA authorization and CDC recommendations of a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain individuals including those over age 50, DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly encourages Long-Term Care Facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents by April 30 or as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

MassHealth has released the Request for Responses (RFR) for its Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Program - the RFR has now been posted on COMMBUYS. Beginning in 2018, MassHealth began a substantial shift towards accountable and integrated models of care. These delivery system reforms have been supported through a set of investments under a restructured federal 1115 demonstration.

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.

On April 7, 2022 CMS announced that it is ending specific emergency declaration blanket waivers for SNFs/NFs, inpatient hospices, ICF/IIDs and ESRD facilities. CMS expects providers to take immediate steps so that they may return to compliance with the reinstated requirements according to the timeframes listed below. Please note: facilities will have until October 5, 2022, to get all resident care assistants/temporary nurse aides trained and/or certified.

As noted in the CMS FAQs for In-Person Visitation Aids, CMP Reinvestment funds are available to certified nursing facilities to add portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency (HEPA H-13 or H-14) filters to increase and improve air quality in nursing homes. The DPH can approve applications that meet the defined CMS parameters without review by CMS. The use of an application template will reduce the amount of time for approval of these funds.

This week, Commonwealth Magazine published an op-ed penned by Tara M. Gregorio, President of Massachusetts Senior Care Association calling for vital workforce investments for Massachusetts nursing homes and their caregivers.

With the FDA authorization and CDC recommendations of a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain individuals including those over age 50, DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly encourages Long-Term Care Facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents by April 30 or as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

The DPH released updated Comprehensive PPE guidance, Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds are available to certified nursing facilities to add portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency (HEPA H-13 or H-14) filters to increase and improve air quality in nursing homes, and DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly encourages Long-Term Care Facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster.

The DPH and Mass Senior Care is urging long-term care facilities to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to residents and staff. In accordance with CDC, the DPH strongly encourages long-term care facilities to administer a second booster vaccine to their residents.

The DPH has developed a job aid to assist nursing facilities in reporting Healthcare personnel influenza vaccination data to the Virtual Gateway's Health Care Facility Reporting System (HCFRS), Mass Senior Care is hosting an informational session on the HireNow program for facility members only, and reminder about DPH monthly call.

DPH and Mass Senior Care strongly encourages Long-Term Care Facilities to provide and administer the second booster vaccine to residents as soon as the resident qualifies for the booster, today the DPH shared updated clinical guidance for COVID-19 therapeutics, and join the informational session on the HireNow program for facility members only.

CMS announced that it is ending specific emergency declaration blanket waivers for SNFs/NFs, inpatient hospices, ICF/IIDs and ESRD facilities, Mass Senior Care is hosting an informational session on the HireNow program for facility members only, and DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.

In response to a recent Mass Senior Care Education Program survey, we are pleased to announce several new seminars designed to help providers refresh their skills and improve their clinical knowledge. We plan to offer virtual QAPI and Director of Nurses Leadership Training so please check our website frequently for updated program offerings. RAC-CT Certification 3 Day Workshop – June 1, June 8 and June 15 – In person, Alliance Health at Marie Esther, Marlborough, MA Mass Senior Care and

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on April 14th at 10:00 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. As always, we will be joined by representatives of CISA and the Massachusetts State Police/Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. The call with provide a recap of the Tabletop Exercise that included health care organizations the MassCyberCenter held on March 30th.

National Healthcare Decisions Month sheds light on the importance of education and empowerment for patients and medical professionals in advanced care planning. This celebration puts the spotlight on what advanced directives are, how to create them, and their significance.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to announce a partnership between MSCA and Incite Strategic Partners, a Senior-Living Group Purchasing Organization (GPO). With a shared vision of excellence for residents, communities, and the Senior Living Industry, Incite and MSCA have joined forces to bring you a best-in-class group purchasing experience.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes yesterday issued a report the nursing home financing, regulatory and delivery system.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing took action on a number of bills last week and issued a favorable report to several nursing facility bills which Mass Senior Care supports

Mass Senior Care is hosting an informational session on the HireNow program for facility members only. The Commonwealth recently announced a grant program providing eligible employers with funding to quickly hire and train new workers – enabling more people to get back to work and meeting workforce needs.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to host our first in-person Spring Conference & Trade Show in more than two years on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the DCU Center in Worcester. Due to the continued uncertainties of the COVID-19 virus, we are scaling back on the number of attendees and exhibitors to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all attendees.

With the FDA authorization and CDC recommendations of a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain individuals including those over age 50, the Department of Public Health is strongly encouraging long-term care facilities to provide a second booster dose to eligible residents.

DPH has added an additional resource and guidance for the use of iHealth rapid antigen tests for testing visitors at long-term care facilities, DPH reminds providers on treatments available for COVID-19, “HireNow” Hiring and Training Employer Grant Program, and REMINDER - Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Influenza Data Submission Deadline is April 15, 2022.

Governor Baker signed the supplemental budget bill for state fiscal year 2022 which extends the state’s policy of allowing nursing school graduates and students in their final semester of nursing education to practice nursing in in-patient health care settings.

The Legislature last night approved and sent to Governor Baker for his signature a supplemental budget bill for state fiscal year 2022, which includes an amendment filed by Senator Julian Cyr that would continue to authorize nursing school graduates and students in their final semester of nursing education to practice nursing in health care settings.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on April 14th at 10:00 am for the monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. The call will be joined by representatives of CISA and the Massachusetts State Police/Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends.

Registration is now open for the 2022 MassMAP Annual Education Sessions. This year’s education will be held in-person on May 17, 18 and 19 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at 3 locations throughout the state – Taunton, Waltham, and Springfield. Topics to be discussed include Nursing Home Incident Command System (NHIC), Developing A Full Building Evacuation Plan, Protectadvisr™ Demo, Mutual Aid Plan Updates, Annual Exercises Overview, and a Tabletop Exercises in the afternoon that meets the annual CMS exercise requirements for a second exercise.

In response to a recent Mass Senior Care Education Program survey, we are pleased to announce several new seminars designed to help providers refresh their skills and improve their clinical knowledge including RAC-CT Certification 3 Day Workshop, PDPM 2 Years Later - The Massachusetts Experience, and ICD-10 Diagnosis Coding Training for Skilled Nursing Facilities.

Mass Senior Care earlier this week testified to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on the FY2023 budget urging the Joint Committee to support and fund Massachusetts Senior Care Association’s FY2023 Vital Workforce Investment Proposal which proposes $238 million in funding. Take Action Now! Please ask your lawmakers to support vital workforce investments.

Mass Senior Care Association is pleased to host our first in-person Spring Conference & Trade Show in more than two years on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the DCU Center in Worcester. We hope you will join us for a dynamic and informative program as we spend the day learning how to banish burnout and bounce back, recommit to our mission-driven profession and strategize on how best to recruit and retain staff to the long term care sector. To ensure a spot at the Spring Conference, please register now.

The CDC updated its recommendations to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to be eligible for another mRNA booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19, and starting April 1, 2022, all wheelchair van services currently covered by MassHealth as fee-for-service transportation will be provided through transportation brokers, MART and GATRA.

DPH released updated guidance on Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement and DPH has shared updated clinical guidance for COVID-19 therapeutics.

Mass Senior Care member, Salter Healthcare, recently graduated their second cohort of CNA students.

With the refresh of Care Compare at the end of April, Services CMS will update the individual quality measure (QM) thresholds that determine Five-Star Quality ratings.

Mass Senior Care and Zimmet Healthcare Services Group will host an in-person RAC-CT Certification Workshop on June 1, June 8 and June 15 from 8 am - 5 pm daily at Alliance Health at Marie Esther in Marlboro.