MassHealth has issued a new online form for MassHealth Education and Community Outreach Support: the MassHealth Education and Information Request Form.

This week, Governor Maura Healey, lawmakers and stakeholders attended a signing ceremony to celebrate the passage of the Massachusetts Economic Development Bill, H.5100, An Act relative to Strengthening Massachusetts’ Economic Leadership. The law authorizes the Governor to seek bonds totaling $4 billion to fund capital projects and programs throughout the Commonwealth. We are pleased to report that the law includes a provision authorizing $50 million to fund nursing facility capital improvements.

Governor Maura Healey recently signed the Long Term Care Reform Law - Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024. The law includes many critical resident care and workforce sections, including a requirement for MassHealth to update its Medicaid funding formula using more current costs for resident care and workforce wages.

Member Update: Revised Long-Term Care Surveyor Guidance – Appendix PP; Register Now for Important Upcoming Webinars!

Member Update: Governor Healey Signs Into Law the FY2024 Closeout Bill to Cover Prior Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Gap: Includes Provision Further Delaying Until 2027 the Patient Billing Transparency Law; DPH Launching Recovery and Monitoring Program for Healthcare Professionals; Register Now for Informative Webinar: Revolutionize Wound Care in Your Nursing Facility; Registration Open for AHCAs Free Building Trust Leadership Academy

Revolutionize Wound Care in Your Nursing Facility Tuesday, January 14, 2025 12:30 pm –1:30 pm VIRTUAL

As previously reported, during the Baker administration Massachusetts incorrectly used $2.5 billion in federal money to provide unemployment benefits that should have been drawn from the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. The error occurred during the Covid-19 Pandemic at a time when unemployment had escalated.

The NHSN Long Term Care Team and Vaccination Team will provide a refresher training about the newly combined reporting form for Respiratory Pathogens and Vaccination, which went into effect September 30, 2024 as well as the upcoming required reporting fields beginning January 1, 2025.

AHCA/NCAL will host a free webinar Encouraging Vaccinations This Season – So You and Your Residents Can Risk Less and Do More on Monday, December 9 at 4:00 EST for all members and non-members to gain insights about how to overcome vaccine reluctance and help increase vaccine uptake among the long term care population.