Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on June 9 at 10:00 am for their monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. The call will be joined by representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Massachusetts State Police and Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association looks forward to celebrating National Nursing Assistants Week which kicks off on Thursday, June 16th. This annual celebration is an opportune time to formally recognize and acknowledge the valuable contributions made by members of your staff every day—especially the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who provide quality care to residents.

Please join the Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition and the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for an educational session around the recent updates to Pneumococcal Vaccine.

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. There are active cases of C. auris in long term care facilities in Massachusetts and across the country.

Two Mass Senior Care member facilities are being recognized with a 2022 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).

Mass Senior Care filed comments this week on CMS’ FFY 2023 SNF Medicare Payment rule, requesting that the agency phase in the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) parity adjustment over three years in light of the staffing and financial challenges the nursing facility sector is experiencing as it battles to protect its residents and staff during the COVID pandemic.

DPH strongly encourages long-term care facilities provide and administer the second COVID-19 booster vaccine to all eligible long-term care residents and staff as soon as possible, Candida auris (C. auris) was recently named one of five urgent threats in the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States. There are active cases of C. auris in long term care facilities in Massachusetts and across the country, and MassHealth has issued an FAQ document from the Customer Web Portal (CWP) & Provider Requests for Transportation (PT-1) Office Hours from May 5.

The Massachusetts Resident Care Assistant (RCA) 8-hour training course is now available free for MSCA members. This online training program provides initial instruction to new RCA recruits. After successfully completing the online training, RCAs receive additional onsite resident care training at the facility and undergo skills/competency assessment by the facility prior to beginning work.

Mass Senior Care would like to remind members that CMP funds up to $3000 per facility are available for in-person visitation aids which now includes portable fans and portable air cleaners meeting the criteria stated on the application template, and Mass Senior Care has received inquiries from members regarding the process for reducing a facility’s licensed bed (quota) as a result of dedensification.