In the coming months, federal aid will dwindle as the government and states move toward a post-pandemic normal order of business. As SNFs continue to struggle with sluggish occupancy and workforce challenges, ensuring that every dollar earned for care delivery is retained will be imperative.

This week, the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing issued a favorable report to H.4780, An Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care. The omnibus nursing home reform bill legislation has now advanced to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

This week, Mass Senior Care members and staff took part in the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing in Washington D.C., to advocate for nursing facility care and bring the profession’s legislative priorities to Capitol Hill. Mass Senior Care members had an ambitious schedule of meetings with House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, Congressman Jim McGovern, and legislative aides from the offices of U.S. Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Congressmen Jake Auchincloss, Seth Moulton, Stephen Lynch, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.

CMS revised QSO-20-41 Guidance related to Emergency Preparedness, on Friday, April 16, 2021, the Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators voted unanimously to reduce the required CEUS from 40 to 20 for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022, and register for tomorrow’s C. Auris Webinar - Candida auris (C. auris) was recently named one of five urgent threats in the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019 despite only being identified in 2016.

The Joint Committee on Elder Affairs released and referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, H.4780, An Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care. This omnibus bill consolidates 16 separate pieces of legislation filed independently.

An earlier version of today's COVID-19 Update included an incorrect link to the ARPA Grant Opportunity.

Governor Baker has announced the second round distribution for the $460 million COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program for low-income workers, CMS has provided clarification on the In-Service Training requirements of §483.95(g)(1) for SNFs and NFs, the ARPA grant opportunity, DPH conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, and a webinar on the emerging threat of Candida auris in LTC facilities.

National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) recently announced various revisions to the COVID-19 module pathways, DPH Issues memo on compliance with Resident Bedroom 2-Bed Maximum Requirement if hardship waiver request is denied, DPH monthly conference call for LTC facilities, MassHealth to host training webinars on how to schedule Enhanced Wheelchair (ECC) Transportation, register now for important education webinar on emerging threat of C. auris in LTC facilities.