Member Resources

Section 31 of chapter 42, of the acts of 2022, signed by Governor Baker on April 4, 2022, continued the authorization of nursing practice by graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) until 180 days after the Commonwealth’s Public Health Emergency ends. Also, join us for our 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 17th at the DCU Center in Worcester.

On October 21, 2022, CMS released a Revisions to Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program memo. These revisions are part of the Biden Harris Administration’s priority to improve the safety and quality of care in nursing homes, as outlined in a FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes.

CMS will host a national stakeholder call on November 1, 2022 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and her leadership team.

Skilled nursing facility reports are now available to review. It is strongly recommended that nursing facilities review this data by November 14, 2022 and contact CMS if you have questions.

To assist members in preparing for the significant changes coming to the MDS system in October 2023, Mass Senior Care is offering two courses presented by Maureen McCarthy, President & CEO of Celtic Consulting. A discounted rate is available for individuals who want to attend both workshops, please call the Mass Senior Care office at 617-558-0202.

The Mass. Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) is offering nursing home administrators the opportunity to gather virtually on November 9th to listen and learn from their peers

On October 24, 2022. CMS updated survey resources on the CMS Nursing Home website

Join us as we gather in-person for our 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 17th at the DCU Center in Worcester! In addition to learning from dynamic speakers on relevant workforce topics, you can also network with colleagues and vendors at the Trade Show and Luncheon. A post-conference “Thank You LTC Heroes” cocktail reception at Off the Rails restaurant will immediately follow the afternoon session.

MassHealth has issued an updated All Provider 352 Bulletin on Requirements for Reporting and Returning of Overpayments.

Join the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) and the MassCyberCenter on November 10th at 10 am for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. As always, we will be joined by representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. This call will include a presentation on cloud security.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is making at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests available to Councils on Aging, Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs), Senior Affordable Housing Providers, Health Care Providers, and other Community-Based Organizations, free of cost, while supplies allow.

Hamel-Lydon Chapel, an MSCA Associate Member, is proud to announce this year's 10 recipients and their respective organizations that represent compassionate care and provide exceptional service to patients and families. Recipients each receive an award certificate and $500 award while their healthcare organizations receive $250 for each award granted.

At its Annual Meeting last week, the AHCA Council of States voted to approve a bylaw amendment to put into effect a dues proposal that would be presented to the Council of States every three years.

The Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2022 awards. Scholarships from $500 to $2,000 will be awarded to selected applicants to cover direct, out of pocket expenses for tuition, fees, books, and supplies incurred during the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has scheduled a remote public hearing on Friday, October 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. relative to the adoption of the Rate Year 2023 Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Regulation. Mass Senior Care will be testifying at this hearing and welcome our members to join us in urging EOHHS to update rates to better reflect the cost of quality resident care including skyrocketing wage rates that have grown by nearly 20% since the start of the pandemic.

Join us as we gather in-person for our 2022 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 17th at the DCU Center in Worcester! In addition to learning from dynamic speakers on relevant workforce topics, you can also network with colleagues and vendors at the Trade Show and Luncheon. A post-conference “Thank You LTC Heroes” cocktail reception at Off the Rails restaurant will immediately follow the afternoon session.

Federal declaration that a public health emergency exists renewed, Mass Senior Care's response to a Boston Globe editorial, DPH released revisions to the Update to Caring for Long-Term Care Residents during the COVID-19 Response, DPH released updated Guidance for Health Care Personnel with SARS-CoV2 Infection or Exposure, and guidance for wearing face masks in certain settings.

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts is a MassDEP-funded program that offers free technical assistance to help Massachusetts businesses and institutions reduce waste. RecyclingWorks experts can guide your organization in implementing or expanding existing programs before these changes go into effect.

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.

The Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation’s annual scholarship program assists long term care staff in meeting their personal and professional goals through furthering their education. The Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2022 awards.

This week at its annual Convention & Expo, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) elected AHCA's Board of Governors and NCAL's Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 term. Phil Fogg, president and CEO of Marquis Companies, was re-elected as AHCA Chair, and Gerald Hamilton, co-owner of BeeHive Homes, was re-elected as NCAL chair.

DPH has provided further details regarding DPH's approved request from CMS for an extension of the 1135 waiver of the requirements contained in 42 CFR §483.35(d) Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for Massachusetts nursing facilities, and Mass Senior Care has been notified by the DPH that, effective October 30th, Prometric will no longer process nurse aide recertifications or reciprocity.

CMS has rescinded QSO-22-25-CLIA, which prohibited the use of SARS-CoV-2 tests outside of the FDA test’s instructions for use. AHCA/NCAL strongly advocated for the rescinding of the memo as it limited the use of the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card being sent by the U.S.

AHCA/NCAL is holding sales this fall on several educational products

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) has released its World Alzheimer Report 2022. “ADI hopes this substantial and comprehensive report will contribute to overcoming some of the apprehensions surrounding post-diagnosis dementia support and help identify some of the barriers to overcome – but also some opportunities that provide direction and hope.”

AHCA is providing a free member webinar on Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness Compliance. Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness are two critical regulatory compliance components that are consistently areas of survey focus.

Over the past several months, Mass Senior Care staff conducted voter registration drives in member facilities across the state in support of our Vote 2022 Campaign, designed to ensure the long term care community has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections. At the November 8, 2022 Election, Massachusetts voters will elect a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, constitutional officers, members of Congress and local elected officials. Many of our residents have participated in elections throughout their lives

The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has established a Hurricane Relief Fund through the Florida Health Care Education and Development Foundation, our 501c(3) tax exempt organization. The fund will benefit employees of FHCA member centers who were affected by Hurricane Ian.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has scheduled a remote public hearing on Friday, October 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. relative to the adoption of the Rate Year 2023 Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Regulation. Mass Senior Care will be testifying at this hearing.

Effective September 26, 2022, the CDC has updated the definition of up-to-date in the NHSN Resident and Staff Vaccination modules, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will be holding a conference call for long-term care facilities on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

On September 30, 2022, the DPH released ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-18 related to Nurse Licensure.

The DPH’s Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management is making at-home COVID tests available free of cost, and the next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2022, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

To assist nursing facilities in their ongoing infection prevention efforts, EOHHS is proposing $16.55 million in payments in rate year 2023 to facilities meeting certain COVID-19 preparedness criteria, DPH released Updated LTC COVID-19 Personnel Vaccination Requirement Guidance, and MassHealth has published a corrected version of All Provider Bulletin 354.

CMS granted DPH's request for an extension of the 1135 waiver of the requirements contained in 42 CFR §483.35(d) Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for Massachusetts SNF/NFs, and on September 26. 2022, CMS released an update to QSO Memo QSO-22-25-CLIA​​ which rescinds enforcement discretion for the use of SARS-CoV-2 tests not FDA approved for use among asymptomatic individuals outside of the test’s instructions for use.

MassHealth has published a corrected version of All Provider Bulletin 354.

As providers prepare​ for the November 14 Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) deadline to submit staffing hours for July 1 – September 30, 2022, they should keep the following three things in mind. ​Providers should submit their data early and review the staffing reports that are available in CASPER to verify the accuracy and completeness of their submission. If errors are found, providers should correct the data prior to the final submission deadline. Providers must submit the number of hours each

Here is what other providers are saying about their experience.

On September 26, 2022, DPH filed a state-specific waiver request with CMS to extend the deadline for long-term care facilities in Massachusetts to come into compliance with the nurse aide training and certification requirements until December 31, 2022.

Wishing all of our colleagues who celebrate Rosh Hashanah a year ahead filled with many blessings, good health and happiness.

Join the Advanced Cybersecurity Center (ACSC), Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI), and the MassCyberCenter on October 13 for our monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. As always, we will be joined by representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Massachusetts State Police and Commonwealth Fusion Center who will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends. This call takes place during 2022 Massachusetts Cybersecurity Month and will include a discussion on cybersecurity threat sharing moderated by the ACSC.

Mass Senior Care will be hosting two virtual workshops to address the changes to the MDS that will become effective October 2023. Presenter for both workshops will be Maureen McCarthy, President and CEO of Celtic Consulting, LLC.

CMS is hosting a virtual listening session with individual health care staff on emergency preparedness on Tuesday, September 27 at 1 PM Eastern. Space is limited so registration should be limited to those who plan to provide input and the number of registrants per organization should be limited. CMS is looking to gather information from individual health care staff on emergency preparedness. The input and lessons-learned from this session will be used to evaluate CMS regulations regarding emergency preparedness for

Providers who received Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, between January 1, 2021- June 30, 2021, are required to report in Reporting Period 3 (RP3). There will be no extension. You must submit a report on use of funds by September 30, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

In March 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released memorandum QSO-19-08-NH. The memo outlines a plan to update the five quality measure (QM) rating thresholds on the Nursing Home Compare website​ every six months. The plan is to increase the thresholds by 50 percent of the average rate of improvement in QM rating scores.