The National Healthcare Safety Network began using the updated definition of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, information provided on MassHealth payments, reminder the deadline for nursing facilities to file the 2022 DCC-Q Final Form electronically on the UMASS portal is July 30th, and Mass Senior Care offers new education programs.

MassHealth has issued billing code guidance on two items (1) COVID MMQ Coding and (2) Claim Error Code 570 for Long Term Care Type of Claims and/or Institutional Type of Claims, which we are reproducing.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) this week released its 2022 data book on health care spending and the Medicare program.

On July 18, 2022, MassHealth released a Request for Responses (RFR) for the next cycle of its Behavioral Health (BH) and Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Community Partners program.

The DPH through the Infection Prevention and Control Resource Hub will host office hours dedicated to addressing antimicrobial stewardship challenges on July 26, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

The deadline for nursing facilities to file the 2022 DCC-Q Final Form electronically on the UMASS portal is July 30th. The webform to submit the final filing can be accessed at https://nf.uenter.org/NF/.

The similarities between Hollywood and Healthcare are uncanny – both are highly sensitive to demographic trends and consumer preferences. Cinema and Skilled Nursing were also hardest hit by the pandemic and share similar challenges on the road to recovery. The target audiences may be different but share the desire to “stay home and chill” – Home & Community Based Theatre is here to stay.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to offer three important virtual education programs designed to help facilities understand and comply with new guidance and requirements. Registration is now open by visiting https://www.maseniorcare.org/events or by clicking on the specific program links.

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. This