Join colleagues from across the state at our 2018 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 8th at the DCU Center in Worcester. This year's theme, "Shaping the Future of Long Term Care: It’s All About Quality,” will feature keynote presentations from U.S. Congressman Richard Neal and Mark Parkinson, President & CEO, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The afternoon session will include a Department of Public Health Presentation on the SPOT Program. Led by Katherine

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) yesterday issued a Notice of Proposed Agency Action, which would update Medicaid nursing facility rates in FY 2019. EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders presented her FY 2019 proposal to the Mass Senior Care Association Board of Directors and indicated that the regulation represents the agency's first step in a short-term stabilization package totaling $30 million in additional spending beginning October 1, 2018. The Secretary also committed to immediately begin working with the

Mass Senior Care President Tara Gregorio issued a letter to Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Spilka and members of the Legislature urging the Administration and Legislature to dedicate a portion of the state fiscal year 2018 surplus revenue to support quality nursing home care and a living wage increase for our dedicated front-line caregivers who deserve to be paid a living wage. Gregorio’s letter noted that, as a result of years of underfunding, Massachusetts nursing facilities are in the midst of

A team of nationally recognized long term care researchers from Brown University led by Stefan Gravenstein, MD, MPH, and Vincent Mor, PhD, are undertaking a large-scale quality improvement study to evaluate the impact of the annual influenza vaccine on long term care residents' hospitalization risk for the 2018 influenza season. Nursing centers that meet eligibility and agree to participate will be asked to complete a short survey and receive financial compensation of $150. If you are interested in participating in

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released revisions to the Long Term Care Survey Process (LTCSP) Procedure Guide and the LTC Survey FAQs. Other revisions include the LTC Survey Pathways and the LTCSP Initial Pool Care Areas which can be accessed on the CMS website.

The Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes was previously developed as an instructor-led training conducted by nursing home staff for nurse aides. The Hand in Hand training is now be available as a self-paced, online training and is available to download for use as an instructor-led course. The updated Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes is available on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) Integrated Surveyor Training Website (ISTW). For help with

As noted in an earlier E-News Update, MassHealth is actively working on a waiver request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would, among other objectives, seek the flexibility to significantly increase enrollment in One Care and Senior Care Options (SCO) programs. This includes potential passive enrollment into SCO programs of all individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Mass Senior Care has expressed serious concerns to MassHealth in regard to the possibility of extending

MassHealth will be making changes to the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) process required of all nursing facility admissions in October 2018. To help all involved entities – nursing facilities, hospitals, and ASAPs – switch to the new process as smoothly as possible and stay compliant with the PASRR rules, MassHealth will be conducting PASRR trainings in the next several weeks. The training will be held at the following locations: Location Address Primary audience Dates Time Mount Saint Vincent