Member Resources

Member Updates: CDC Food Safety Alert Regarding Cantaloupes; CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum; EOHHS Procurement for One Care Plans and SCO Plans

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on December 14th at 10 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call.

The Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) is hosting an online listening session "Echoes from Administrators" on Thursday, December 7 at 12:15pm.

A Bright Horizon’s location in Massachusetts has several unopened boxes of adult and child-sized masks that they are looking to donate.

As a reminder, free COVID-19 tests through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are still available to providers.

The Department of Family and Medical Leave has published 2024 workplace posters and notices for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML).

AHCA/NCAL has developed a NCAL Survey Preparedness Resource document

The Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is replacing the current vital records registration system with the Massachusetts Vital Records Information Collaborative (MAVRIC), for the processing of all vital events.

On November 20, 2023, CMS released Admin Memo: 24-05-NH to provide guidance to surveyors on areas of focus for Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS).

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has released preliminary revenue figures for the month of October indicating that total revenue collections for the first 4 months of the fiscal year 2024 (July 2023-October 2023) are $355 million or about 3% less than the year-to-date budget benchmarks.

Member Update: MassHealth Issues PDPM Billing Guidance on CMS Grouper Error

Member Update: MWRA Wastewater Data Shows Increase in COVID-19 Cases

We would like to wish all of our members a Happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for your support and your extraordinary dedication to meeting the vital care needs of residents across the Commonwealth.

Please join us on Tuesday, November 28th to support the Mass Senior Care Foundation’s mission to promote workforce quality and to provide our compassionate caregivers with scholarships as they pursue advanced training and higher education.

This Leadership Academy is designed to teach facility leaders practical skills to help them build trust with their staff.

The summary, recording and transcript of the National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator held on October 17 is now available.

The Joint Commission recently released resources for nursing homes and assisted living facilities related to customer insight on the accreditation process for ALRs, FAQs on medical director requirements for Joint Commission ALR memory care certification and early identification and evaluation of severe pressure injuries.

The DPH is encouraging long-term care facilities to attend an upcoming virtual summit on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST discussing Community Resources for Substance Use Disorders, hosted by Abt Associates and their partner, Healthcentric Advisors.

The EOEA Assisted Living Certification & Compliance Unit (AL-Unit) has completed the 2023 calendar year compliance reviews

On November 20, 2023, the Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity held a virtual press conference to push health systems to revisit masking policies.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule requiring the disclosure of certain nursing home ownership, managerial, and other information, for purposes of transparency.

At Mass Senior Care’s Annual Meeting held November 16th in Worcester, MA, a standing room only crowd listened to MSCA President Tara Gregorio and Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Secretary Kate Walsh

Please see below for the conference slide decks from Mass Senior Care's 2023 Annual Meeting & Trade Show.

Member Update: House of Representatives Adopts Omnibus Nursing Facility Reform Bill

Member Update: Significant Strain on Hospital Capacity in Your Region

Member Updates: House Ways and Means Committee Issues Redrafted Omnibus Nursing Facility Reform Bill – Adds Key Workforce and Rate Provisions - Vote Expected This Week; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting

Member Update: MassHealth October 2023 PDPM Payments

Member Update: Comment Period Closes on CMS Proposed Minimum Staffing Rule

On Saturday, Nov. 11, we celebrate Veterans Day by honoring those who have served, fought and sacrificed for our country.

Schedule a free Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) in November or December.

DPH will be transitioning the Nurse Aide Registry Services (NARS) to a new Health Profession Licensing System for certified nurse aides (CNAs).

Join us as we gather for our 2023 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 16th at the DCU Center in Worcester!

Earlier this week, the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a hearing that included discussion of H1211 and S747 An Act Relative to the Nurse Licensure Compact in Massachusetts (NLC).

With over 42,000 comments filed, 18,000 of which came from AHCA members and nearly 250 from Massachusetts, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must now review each of these comments before acting on its proposed minimum staffing rule for nursing facilities.

Member Updates: Long-term Care Health Personnel Vaccination for COVID-19 and Influenza; New Health Professions Licensing System for Nurse Aides

Member Updates: DPH Monthly Call Reminder: November 8, 2023; Limited Seats Available for Mass Senior Care Annual Meeting

Applicants who plan to apply for a National Quality Award in 2024 are encouraged to submit an Intent to Apply (ITA) BEFORE the deadline at 8 pm ET on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

Massachusetts is experiencing a steady and concerning rise in COVID-19 cases in long-term care facility residents and staff.

Updated Flyer: ahcancalED offers Facility Assessments 101: The Driver of Resources, Training and Competencies

Annual Meeting & Trade Show Thursday, November 16, 2023 DCU Center, Worcester 9:30am – 3:00pm

The Healey-Driscoll Administration, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be hosting a work authorization clinic for migrants staying in emergency family shelters during the week of November 13, 2023.

The House and Senate budget leaders are currently working on a close out budget for the prior state fiscal year 2023 budget

The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing yesterday issued a favorable recommendation to H.3929, An Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care

Member Updates: Nursing Home Omnibus Reform Bill Reported Out Favorable by Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; MassHealth Issues MMIS Update; Clarification on MOLST Signatures

Member Update: MassHealth Nursing Facility MDS/MMIS Webinar on October 31, 2023 at 1 PM