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Mass Senior Care E-News Update: August 22, 2019

Sponsored by:

ProCare LTC Pharmacy

In This Issue:

FY 2020 Medicaid Budget/Rate Update
Register Now for Leadership Convention!
AHCA Resources to Assist with PDPM Implementation
Upcoming Committee Meeting - SUD Task Force

National Shortage of APLISOL®

MA DPH has been made aware of a current national shortage, and anticipated supply interruption, of APLISOL®, one of two purified-protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin products licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for detecting TB infection.

National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care Call on September 10th: Supporting Comfort and Resident Preferences

National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement will host a Dementia Care: Supporting Comfort and Resident Preferences call on Tuesday, September 10

Upcoming Committee Meeting - SUD Task Force

Mass Senior Care's Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Task Force will be meeting on Monday, September 9th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Mass Senior Care's office in Waltham. MassHealth representatives will be joining the SUD Task Force meeting to learn about challenges and barriers to caring for residents with SUD and/or on MAT. In addition, there will be a presentation from DPH on a SAMSHA-funded grant on MAT in nursing facilities.

Changes at the Department of Public Health, Division of Facility Licensure & Certification

There have been several changes in supervisory positions at DPH Division of Facility Licensure & Certification.

AHCA Resources to Assist with PDPM Implementation

PDPM will be here soon and the American Health Care Association has resources available to assist providers in preparing for this transformative change to the way in which skilled nursing facilities are reimbursed for Medicare Part a stays.

South Cove Manor Hosts Secretary of Elder Affairs Elizabeth Chen

On August 15th, South Cove Manor at Quincy Point welcomed Executive Office of Elder Affairs Secretary Elizabeth Chen for a conversation on elder care in Massachusetts and a tour.

Baypointe Rehab & Skilled Care Center Recognized for Deficiency-Free Survey

State Senator Michael Brady (D-Brockton) and Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues presented citations recognizing the staff and leadership at Baypointe Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center for a second consecutive deficiency-free survey.

Register Now for Leadership Convention!

Register today for Mass Senior Care's 2019 Leadership Convention at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster on September 19-20th. Please join us at this premier conference destination that offers a unique forum to exchange ideas, share experiences, earn CEUs and network with colleagues.

FY 2020 Medicaid Budget/Rate Update

Earlier this month, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law the FY 2020 Budget, which includes $50 million in new Medicaid funding for nursing facility care and establishes a Nursing Facility Emergency Task Force to make recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the nursing facility sector.

Mass Senior Care E-News Update: August 15, 2019

Sponsored by:

Marcum LLP

In This Issue:

Don't Miss the 2019 Leadership Convention on September 19-20
Project RED: A True Collaborative Effort - Special Innovation Project Outcomes Congress
MassMAP Orientation Sessions
Applications for 2020 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Now Available

Project RED: A True Collaborative Effort - Special Innovation Project Outcomes Congress

Project Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) is an evidence-based intervention that provides a systematic approach to prepare patient and caregivers for a successful discharge back to the community. Through a three-year Special Innovation Project, Healthcentric Advisors has partnered with hospitals, nursing homes, home health, and local aging services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts to enhance discharges back to the community, impacting nearly 4,500 patients. On Thursday, August 22nd, from 10 am to noon, Healthcentric Advisors QIO will convene a meeting to learn about the

CMS Issues Appendix Q Update on Referring Crimes to Law Enforcement

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released revisions of its March 5, 2019 memo to state survey agencies to "Revisions to Appendix Q, Guidance on Immediate Jeopardy" . CMS has added language to Appendix Q to give state survey agencies guidance on when they must report suspected illegal acts to law enforcement. The language added to Appendix Q now specifies that when a deficiency is identified, if illegal activity is connected to the deficiency, the state surveyor

CMS: Beyond the Policy Podcast: Nursing Home Strategy Part 1 - Strengthening Oversight

CMS released the latest episode of its podcast, CMS: Beyond the Policy . This edition focuses on the first of CMS' 5-pronged strategy on strengthening oversight in nursing homes. You can also listen to the podcast on Google Play and iTunes .

Understanding Your SNF VBP Program Performance Score Report Call

CMS will host a call on Tuesday, August 27 from 1:30 to 3 pm ET on Understanding Your SNF VBP Program Performance Score Report. During this call, learn about your Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program Performance Score Report. CMS experts present a high level summary of the program and highlight the payment year 1 results (FY 2019 program year). A question and answer session follows the presentation; however attendees may email questions in advance to SNFVBP@rti.org with

OIG LEIE Database Updated for July 2019

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released its updated list which reflects all OIG exclusions and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in July 2019. This new file is meant to replace the updated List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) database file available for download last month. Individuals and entities that have been reinstated to the federal health care programs are not included in this file. The updated files are posted

Mass Senior Care E-News Update: August 7, 2019

Sponsored by:

Woodmark Phramacy

In This Issue:

Don't Miss the 2019 Leadership Convention on September 19-20
CMS Unveils New Fact Sheet on 3-Day Rule Billing Following Release of OIG Report
MassMAP Orientation Sessions
Applications for 2020 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Now Available

Applications for 2020 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Now Available

The 2020 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program cycle is underway! Application packets are now available online. Based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework , the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award recognizes long term and post-acute care member centers and communities for quality care. Participating in the Quality Award Program has many benefits, including: It provides a proven framework that organizations can use to make improvements in any clinical, quality or other operational issue (i.e. staff engagement, customer satisfaction, hospital readmissions). It

CMS Unveils New Fact Sheet on 3-Day Rule Billing Following Release of OIG Report

Recently released OIG report included a recommendation that "CMS should analyze the potential impacts of counting time spent as an outpatient toward the 3-night requirement for SNF services so that beneficiaries receiving similar hospital care have similar access to these services."

Don't Miss the 2019 Leadership Convention on September 19-20

Mass Senior Care E-News Update: August 1, 2019

Sponsored by:

Pharmscript

In This Issue:

Governor Baker Signs Into Law Fiscal Year 2020 Budget
CMS Issues FFY 2020 Medicare SNF PPS Final Rule
2019 Foundation Scholars Announced
Department of Family Medical Leave Issues Important Information -- Quarterly Contributions Based on Date Wages Paid

Dementia Care: Supporting Comfort and Resident Preferences Call — September 10

The National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement will host a call on September 10, 2019 from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm on Dementia Care: Supporting Comfort and Resident Preferences. During this call, gain insight on approaches to care for residents living with dementia that focus on resident preferences, maintaining comfort, and assisting with unmet needs. Additionally, CMS will provide updates on the progress of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes .

MassMAP Orientation Sessions

MassMAP will be holding orientation sessions for Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Residences and Rest Home members in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in September. The orientation is for new MassMAP members as well as staff who are not familiar with the MassMAP website.

Department of Family Medical Leave Issues Important Information -- Quarterly Contributions Based on Date Wages Paid

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has issued the following information related to the Paid Family and Medical Leave program. October 1 will mark the beginning of the first quarter of payroll and wage withholdings. DFML has now determined that these withholdings will be remitted to DFML 30 days following the conclusion of each calendar quarter and should begin with the first payment made on or after Oct. 1, 2019. Therefore, the withholdings could be for services

CMS Issues FFY 2020 Medicare SNF PPS Final Rule

Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule outlining the Federal Fiscal Year 2020 (FFY 2020) Medicare prospective payment system rate update and quality reporting requirements for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The FFY 2020 final rule establishes a market basket increase of 2.4 percent, a figure statutorily mandated by Congress, and will start October 1, 2019. The Final Rule makes no material changes to the scheduled implementation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM),

Governor Baker Signs Into Law Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

Yesterday Governor Charlie Baker signed into law the FY 2020 Budget, which includes $50 million in new Medicaid funding for nursing facility care and establishes a Nursing Facility Emergency Task Force to make recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the nursing facility sector.

2019 Foundation Scholars Announced

Building on its 34-year legacy of assisting long term care staff in furthering their education, the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation is proud to announce its 2019 Foundation Scholars.

Governor Baker Signs into Law FY 2020 Budget

Mass Senior Care is pleased to report Governor Charlie Baker signed into law today the FY 2020 Budget, which includes $50 million in new Medicaid funding for nursing facility care and establishes a Nursing Facility Emergency Task Force to make recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the nursing facility sector.

Mass Senior Care E-News Update: July 25, 2019

Sponsored by:

O2Safe Solutions

In This Issue:

Legislature Adopts FY 2020 Budget - Sends to Governor Baker for His Review and Action
Registration Re-Opens for Two Popular Mass Senior Care August Seminars
Registration Available for 2019 Leadership Convention on September 19-20

Legislature Adopts FY 2020 Budget - Sends to Governor Baker for His Review and Action

This week, the Massachusetts Legislature approved and sent to Governor Charlie Baker for his final approval the state fiscal year 2020 budget.

Registration Re-Opens for Two Popular Mass Senior Care August Seminars

To accommodate an overwhelming response from our members, the August 19th ICD-10 Diagnosis Training for Skilled Nursing Facilities and the August 20th Patient Drive Payment Model for Billing Staff seminars have both been moved to the Hilton Garden Inn, 450 Totten Pond Road in Waltham, allowing us to accommodate more attendees. Anyone who is on the waiting list for either of these programs will receive an email requesting that they confirm their registration as soon as possible. If you are

Registration Available for 2019 Leadership Convention on September 19-20

Mass Senior Care is pleased to host our 2019 Leadership Convention at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster on September 19-20th. Please join us at this premier conference destination that offers a unique forum to exchange ideas, share experiences, earn CEUs and network with colleagues. Provider member registration and additional details are now available for the Leadership Convention . Mass Senior Care is offering sponsorship opportunities exclusively to our Associate Members/Preferred Vendors to join us at this year's

Member Spotlight: Oriol Health Care Awarded IT Makeover

Oriol Health Care in Holden was recently named one of three winners in the PCM/Intel $30,000 Workplace IT Makeover contest. The makeover included an upgrade in technology and replacement of Wi-Fi at two nursing facilities which has provided Oriol Health Care with the foundation to embrace new technology that will assist them in providing quality care to their residents. Photo: David Oriol, Oriol Health Care VP and COO; Beth Cogavin OHC CFO; Kerry Sama Rubio, Intel Marketing Account Manager; Robert

NFPA Journal Article on MA Elevator Issue

Robert Solomon from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and an annual presenter at the Mass Senior Care Annual Life Safety Code workshop outlines the issue that Massachusetts nursing homes face with the conflict in the federal life safety code regulations and the Massachusetts Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators in his blog Sprinklers, state code amendments, and the safety ecosystem . For questions regarding this issue, please contact Helen Magliozzi , Mass Senior Care Association Director of Regulatory Affairs.

Conference Committee Adopts SFY 2020 Budget

Mass Senior Care is pleased to report that the Conference Committee has filed its FY 2020 spending proposal, which includes $50 million in new Medicaid funding for nursing facility care and establishes a Nursing Facility Emergency Task Force to make recommendations on long term sustainability of the nursing facility sector.

Mass Senior Care E-News Update: July 18, 2019

Sponsored by:

Pharmscript

In This Issue:

CMS Seeks One-Year Delay for Some RoP Provisions, Issues Final Arbitration Rule
Continued Deliberations on FY 2020 Budget
MassHealth Issues NF Provider Bulletin Updating PASRR Regulations
MassHealth Update on Section Q Referrals

Applications for 2020 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Available August 1

The 2020 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program cycle is just around the corner – applications and the criteria series will be available August 1, 2019. Based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework , the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award recognizes long term and post-acute care member centers and communities for quality care. Participating in the Quality Award Program has many benefits, including: It provides a proven framework that organizations can use to make improvements in any clinical, quality or other operational

Save the Date - Mass Senior Care's 2019 Leadership Convention

SAVE THE DATE 2019 Leadership Convention September 19-20, 2019 Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, Brewster Please mark your calendars for Mass Senior Care's 2019 Leadership Conventionon September 19th and 20th. Registration for provider members will be available next week. Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to offer our Associate Members/Preferred Vendors sponsorship opportunities to join us at this year’s Leadership Convention. Please contact Jennifer Chen at 617-558-0202, ext. 239 for additional information.

Updated Section GG Web-based Training Course

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training course on how to properly code Section GG. This 45-minute course is intended for providers in the following care settings: Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), and Home Health Agencies (HHAs). The course is designed to be used on demand anywhere you can access a browser. The course is divided into the following four lessons and includes interactive exercises that allow

MassHealth Update on Section Q Referrals

MassHealth last week issued a notice to nursing facilities that the website for Section Q referrals to Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs), a.k.a. “Section Q Reporter”, has been decommissioned and it will no longer be available for use. To make Section Q referrals, please contact your ASAPs directly via email or by phone. For questions on Section Q referrals, please contact David Kazis at David.A.Kazis@MassMail.State.MA.US . Source: MassHealth

MassHealth Issues NF Provider Bulletin Updating PASRR Regulations

As noted in last week’s E-News, MassHealth has made a change to the Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) process to extend the permitted duration of the Convalescent Care and Respite Categorical Determinations to 75 and 15 days, respectively. The change is retroactively effective to July 1, 2019. Please see the following information related to this change: Revised Provider Bulletin on PASSR - NF Provider Bulletin 143 Updating Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) – this Bulletin maintains the substantive

Continued Deliberations on FY 2020 Budget

FY 2020 Conference Committee deliberations continue and it is unclear when consensus will be reached on a legislative FY 2020 recommendation.

CMS Seeks One-Year Delay for Some RoP Provisions, Issues Final Arbitration Rule

Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule on the Requirements of Participation (RoPs) and delays implementation of some Phase 3 requirements by a year.

Mass Senior Care E-News Update: July 11, 2019

Sponsored by:

Krokidas & Bluestein

In This Issue:

Conference Committee Continues to Deliberate FY 2020 Budget: Action Needed
EOHHS Issues Bulletin with July 1, 2019 NF User Fee - No Change
MassHealth Issues NF Provider Bulletin Updating PASRR Regulations
Direct Care Add On Webform is Now Available - Due Date is July 31, 2019

Conference Committee Continues to Deliberate FY 2020 Budget: Action Needed

The Conference Committee members continue to reconcile the House of Representatives' and Senate's versions of the FY 2020 budget. The state is currently operating on an interim budget to keep state government programs and services running through the month of July.

EOHHS Issues Bulletin with July 1, 2019 NF User Fee - No Change

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has issued Administrative Bulletin 19-12 in regard to the nursing facility user fees that are in effect as of July 1, 2019. The fees to be paid by nursing facilities will remain unchanged: Facility Group Per Diem User Fee Effective July 1, 2019 Group I $21.73 Group II $2.17 Group III $2.17 Group IV $0.00

MassHealth Issues NF Provider Bulletin Updating PASRR Regulations

MassHealth has issued NF Provider Bulletin 143 Updating Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) regulations for individuals with Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disability, and/or Serious Mental Illness. This bulletin maintains the substantive requirements set forth in Nursing Facility Bulletin 141, except it extends the permitted duration of the Convalescent Care and Respite Categorical Determinations to 75 and 15 days, respectively.

Direct Care Add On Webform is Now Available - Due Date is July 31, 2019

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) yesterday informed nursing facility registered users that the FY19 MassHealth Direct Care Webform is now operational at https://www.uenter.org/nf/ . The due date for submission is Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Please note that users now have the ability to view prior year filings by selecting the year on the webform's home page. If you have difficulty logging into your account or have other questions, please email NFDirectCare@umassmed.edu . EOHHS has also asked

Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave Posts Update on Covered Employee

Based on the information received during the regulatory review process, the Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave has posted additional language that may clarify the process for determining an employer's total workforce for the purpose of remitting the correct contribution amount. Please click here to access the updated information. Additional information on the PFML law, including a Q&A for employers and employees, can also be found on The Department of Family and Medical Leave website . To sign up

MassHealth Issued Managed Care Provider Bulletin on Prior Authorization for Suboxone

MassHealth has issued Managed Care Entity Bulletin 17: Prior Authorization and Utilization Management for Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) . To facilitate the provision of medically necessary medication to treat substance use disorders, EOHHS is establishing the following requirements effective immediately. Utilization Management including Prior Authorization for Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) MassHealth Managed Care Entities (MCEs), including Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Accountable Care Partnership Plans (ACPPs), One Care plans, Senior Care Options (SCOs), and the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) must provide access to at

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