E-News Update Articles

MassHealth has issued an Eligibility Operations Memo updating the application packet for health benefits for seniors and people needing long-term-care services as of March 2022.

AHCA/NCAL’s Congressional Briefing is back in 2022 and it’s time to register!

As we reported to members last week, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) on Tuesday notified nursing facilities that it will extend the current 10% COVID-19 supplemental workforce payment through June 30th. The new 3-month funding for workforce brings the cumulative total of COVID-19 supplemental payments to $60 million for the 6-month period of January through June 2022.

Please find updated names and contact information for the DPH Certification and Complaint Units.

The Occupational Health and Safety Agency (OSHA) announced a time-limited enforcement effort for focused inspections in hospitals, nursing facilities, and assisted living communities treating COVID-19 patients.

As we have previously reported to membership, the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) is in the final stages of upgrading and modernizing the Nursing Facility Cost Reports in an effort to make the forms more accessible to policy makers, providers and consumers.

CMS announced changes to QSO-20-38-NH Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements and QSO-20-39-NH Nursing Home Visitation - COVID-19 guidance, and Mass Senior Care reminds members that the public policy allowing a student who graduated from a registered nursing or practical nursing program or a senior nursing student attending the last semester of a registered nursing or practical nursing program to practice nursing expires on April 1, 2022.

The National Compassionate Caregivers of the Year (NCCY) Award recognizes extraordinary healthcare professionals from across the country who embody the characteristics of compassionate care, and whose professional achievements have helped to create healing healthcare environments for patients, families, colleagues, and communities.

MassHealth has scheduled on March 16, 2022, from 1 PM – 2:30 PM, a training regarding changes to MassHealth Nonemergency Wheelchair Van Transportation Services. If you have already registered for the March 10 session and plan to attend, there is no need to register again.

EOHHS notified nursing facilities that it will extend the current 10% COVID-19 supplemental workforce payment through June 30th, join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday, March 10th @ 3:00pm ET for a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call, and OSHA announced a time-limited enforcement effort for focused inspections in hospitals, nursing facilities, and assisted living communities treating COVID-19 patients.

Updated Comprehensive PPE Guidance, CMS issues guidance to states on returning to routine operations after the eventual end of the COVID-19 PHE, final chance to register for tomorrow’s webinar; MassHealth to host important training webinar on Nonemergency Wheelchair Transportation; DPH monthly call reminder, and REDCap upgrade scheduled Friday, March 11.

Please join MassHealth and Mass Senior Care on March 8, 2022, at 1:00 pm for an informational webinar to review Administrative Bulletin 22-02 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities. MassHealth staff will review specific sections of the bulletin including: Payable Claims for the Administration of Certain COVID-19 Outpatient Treatments Medicaid Transitional Add-on Add-on Rates for Severe Mental and Neurological Disorder Services New Homelessness Rate Add-on New Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Rate Add-on Surveillance Testing Supplemental Payment Requirements In

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) will extend the current 10% COVID-19 supplemental workforce payment through June 30th. The new 3-month funding for workforce brings the cumulative total of COVID-19 supplemental payments to $60 million for the 6-month period of January through June 2022.

To celebrate healthcare workers and to present Project Firstline’s new infection control educational materials, CDC is hosting a special launch event for the healthcare workforce on March 16, 2022 from 1 pm – 2:00 pm EST.

MassHealth has scheduled on March 10, 2022, from 1 PM – 2:30 PM, a training regarding changes to MassHealth Nonemergency Wheelchair Van Transportation Services. MassHealth notes that this is a mandatory training for unit clerks, social workers, case managers, admissions staff, business managers, and administrators. Starting April 1, 2022, all wheelchair van services currently covered by MassHealth as fee-for-service transportation will be provided through transportation brokers, MART and GATRA. As of April 1, 2022, nursing facilities will no longer be

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is making available, to multiple sectors, departments, and agencies, excess PPE which can be requested to create or bolster existing PPE levels at the municipal, state agency, and nonprofit levels.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on March 10th at 10:00 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. As always, we will be joined by representatives of CISA and the Massachusetts State Police/Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends.

After a two-year hiatus, the AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit is back, and registration is open. Join your colleagues at The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida and discover new ideas that you can bring home and implement immediately. Please click here for detailed program and registration information. VIRTUAL REGISTRATION OPTION If you are unable to travel to The Gaylord Palms but still wish to participate in the 2022 Quality Summit, then this Curated Virtual Content option is for you! This option will

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) today released a new report outlining the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s nursing homes. The report, produced by CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), highlights that the cost of care and other operations in nursing homes is far exceeding their reimbursement rates, resulting in a projected 4.8 percent negative margin for year end 2022, with a median occupancy of 77.3%

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association. Our members have demonstrated their commitment to the senior care provider community by joining Mass Senior Care and we are grateful for their support.

This complimentary session will break down the complexity associated with compliance audits required for both privately held and nonprofit organizations. We will provide attendees with the latest available insights on reporting of PRF Period 2 funding, including key pieces of information for reporting on skilled nursing infection control and quality incentive payments.

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) released a new report outlining the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s nursing homes, join President & CEO Mark Parkinson and the AHCA/NCAL team for a member webinar to discuss the details of President Biden’s proposals for nursing homes presented during the State of the Union address and the Association’s response, informational webinar to review Administrative Bulletin 22-02 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities, and MassHealth has scheduled a training regarding changes to MassHealth Nonemergency Wheelchair Van Transportation Services.

The White House unveiled a plan Protecting Seniors and People with Disabilities by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes, the Administration has notified Massachusetts employers that the COVID-19 Massachusetts Emergency Paid Sick Leave Program (MEPSL) will be ending in 15 days, join MassHealth and Mass Senior Care for an informational webinar to review Administrative Bulletin 22-02 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities, MassHealth has scheduled a training regarding changes to MassHealth Nonemergency Wheelchair Van Transportation Services, and information on the MEMA & DPH Excess PPE Program.

MassHealth has scheduled on March 10, 2022, from 1 PM – 2:30 PM, a training regarding changes to MassHealth Nonemergency Wheelchair Van Transportation Services, the Interim Direct Care Cost-Quotient (DCC-Q) Filing is due on March 1st, and nursing facilities must file the form electronically on the UMASS portal, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) yesterday announced it is making more than $560 million in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments this week.

The American Health Care Association is pleased to announce that National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) products and planning guide are now available at nsncw.org.

The DPH has released guidance for nursing homes and rest homes on the process to report mandatory healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza data to fulfill the requirement for submission of annual HCP influenza data to DPH by April 15, 2022. In addition the DPH has provided a list of resources to assist healthcare facilities in developing influenza campaigns and identifying best practices for increasing HCP vaccination rates.

Mass Senior Care is reminding nursing facilities that any nursing home that advertises or holds itself out as providing specialized services and programming for dementia special care units must: meet the requirements for dementia special care units at 105 CMR 150.022 through 150.029 and complete a disclosure statement that is available to the public and filed annually on March 1 with the Department of Public Health, regardless of whether the information previously reported in the form has changed.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has posted of a Notice of Upcoming Procurement announcing its intent to procure qualified entities to serve as Accountable Care Partnership Plans (ACPPs) and Primary Care Accountable Care Organizations (PCACOs) under its Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program.

Mass Senior Care continues to remind nursing facilities that per the Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement the booster vaccine mandate requires all nursing homes and rest homes to ensure that all eligible personnel have received a COVID-19 additional dose or booster vaccination by February 28, 2022.

Per the Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement the booster vaccine mandate requires all nursing homes and rest homes to ensure that all eligible personnel have received a COVID-19 additional dose or booster vaccination by February 28, 2022, the DPH has released guidance for nursing homes and rest homes on the process to report mandatory healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza data to fulfill the requirement for submission of annual HCP influenza data to DPH by April 15, 2022, Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosures due March 1st, and the Department of Mental Health Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) team has created a portal to collect data on current nursing facility residents.

Mass Senior Care would like to remind nursing facilities that per the Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement the booster vaccine mandate requires all nursing homes and rest homes to ensure that all eligible personnel have received a COVID-19 additional dose or booster vaccination by February 28, 2022.

Mass Senior Care congratulates Jennifer Pelletier, Administrator at Country Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Newburyport and Corey Beaudette, Administrator at Webster Manor Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Webster on being selected as recipients of the 2022 Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award. Awarded by the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA), the Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award program uses data-driven criteria to objectively identify high-performing skilled nursing facilities and the leaders who make them excel. The Eli Pick

Governor Baker has signed an FY 2022 Supplemental Budget Bill which will fund additional testing within the Commonwealth and provide free masks for schools and congregate settings including nursing facilities. The Legislature’s bill also includes the following three nursing facility related items:

Mass Senior Care would like to remind nursing facilities that per the Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement the booster vaccine mandate requires all nursing homes and rest homes to ensure that all eligible personnel have received a COVID-19 additional dose or booster vaccination by February 28, 2022.

After a two-year hiatus, the AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit is back, and registration is open. Join your colleagues at The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida and discover new ideas that you can bring home and implement immediately. Please click here for detailed program and registration information. VIRTUAL REGISTRATION OPTION If you are unable to travel to The Gaylord Palms but still wish to participate in the 2022 Quality Summit, then this Curated Virtual Content option is for you! This option will

Governor Baker signed an FY 2022 Supplemental Budget Bill which will fund additional testing within the Commonwealth and provide free masks for schools and congregate settings including nursing facilities, the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal opened on January 1, 2022 for Reporting Period 2 (RP2), PRF Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Reconsideration process is now open through the submission deadline at 11:59:59 PM EST on May 2, 2022, and EOHHS online PASRR portal communication.

Given the rise of patients in hospitals who have been medically cleared for discharge yet are unable to find skilled nursing facility placements, MHA and Mass Senior Care have worked together to establish the Post-Acute Care Transition (PACT) Collaborative which is a mechanism for hospital discharge case managers to communicate with MHA and Mass Senior Care to escalate and address challenges in skilled nursing facility placements, and nursing facilities have received an additional $60 million this quarter to support workforce expenditures.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association. Our members have demonstrated their commitment to the senior care provider community by joining Mass Senior Care and we are grateful for their support. Facility Members: Vantage at Hampden, in Hampden, MA, a 100-bed skilled nursing facility. Contact: Augustine Aiguosatile, Administrator. Vantage at South Hadley, in South Hadley, MA, a 132-bed skilled nursing facility. Contact: Yasmin Binns, Administrator. Vantage at Wilbraham, in Wilbraham, MA, a 135-bed skilled nursing

The 2022 AHCA/NCAL education product guide is now available and includes program information on topics relevant to the long term care provider community, including COVID-19 Infection & Prevention, Workforce, Behavioral Health and Trauma Informed Care, PDPM, IPCO, Supervisory Training and more. We encourage you to share this information with your staff and take advantage of the discounted pricing offered to MSCA/NCAL members.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted a second edition of the COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet. This resource will help providers understand CMS’ public reporting approach to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) to account for CMS quality data submissions that were either optional or excepted from public reporting due to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

As part of Mass Senior Care Association’s ongoing efforts to support our workforce, we are pleased to inform you that Governor Baker has announced an implementation plan for the $460 million COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program for low-income workers. This premium pay program, which nursing facility workers will be eligible for, will provide a $500 bonus payment to lower-income staff who worked during the COVID-19 state of emergency that began in 2020.

The Boston Medical Center is offering free, virtual X-waiver training February to April 2022 for all prescribers regardless if they currently prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The training is necessary to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in 30 or more residents. For those who treat fewer than 30 residents, the training is still highly recommended.

AHCA offers a five-module online training program titled Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Academy which offers training about a holistic interdisciplinary approach toward revenue management. RCM can be implemented in a building, more broadly or as an organization-wide approach to enhance revenue by minimizing losses from payments that too often are unnecessarily lost or overlooked.

It has come to Mass Senior Care’s attention that some temporary staffing agencies are recommending potential employees enroll in and take the AHCA Temporary Nurse Aide program in order to be placed as a temporary nurse aide/resident care assistant in a nursing facility.

Governor Baker’s Administration today announced the method it will use to distribute the first portion of the $460 million Essential Employee Premium Pay Program for low-income workers that was funded through the state’s COVID-19 recovery law enacted last December, and the DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

The DPH will be holding a nursing home provider call on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

CMS released an updated version of the Nursing Home Visitation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The updates provide important clarifications.

EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders recently released a letter addressed to families of long-term care residents. This letter includes guidance for families and visitors on keeping long-term care residents safe during visits.

On March 21, 2022, MassHealth will implement changes to the Eligibility Verification System (EVS) and the HIPAA Health Care Eligibility Benefit Inquiry and Response (270/271) transaction to include the additional benefit plans:

We are pleased to inform members that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has begun the process of issuing the new 10% COVID-19 Supplemental Payments authorized under Administrative Bulletin 22-02: Payment Methodologies for New and Existing Nursing Facility Payments under 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities.