Member Resources

Member Update: DPH Webinar on Respiratory Virus Illnesses

Late last week, a federal judge in Texas struck down the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Overtime Rule which was originally released on April 23, 2024. The Overtime Rule would raise the minimum salary threshold for employees who are classified as exempt from payment of overtime wages under the “white-collar” exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) has launched an electronic payment service available for Assisted Living Residences (ALR) to pay the application and certification fees required to be certified as an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) in MA. The optional electronic payment service became effective November 1, 2024.

The MAVRIC electronic death registration system go live date has been delayed. The final code testing led to further adjustments for funeral home staff, burial agents, and medical examiners.

Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff especially as we enter respiratory virus season.

Vaccination rates for the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine remain extremely low for residents in Massachusetts’ nursing facilities. NHSN data from the week ending November 10, 2024, indicate only 30.7% of nursing facility residents have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, ranking Massachusetts as 26th out of 50 states and slightly higher than the national average of 30.4%.

Please join us on Tuesday, December 3rd, in supporting 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.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to report that Governor Healey also signed into the law a provision adding the Commonwealth to the national Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) which is vital to continued efforts to address the nursing workforce shortage.

This week, Governor Maura Healey signed into law the Economic Development Bill, H.5100, An Act relative to Strengthening Massachusetts’ Economic Leadership. The law authorizes the Governor to seek bonds totaling $4 billion to fund capital projects and programs throughout the Commonwealth. We are pleased to report that the law includes a provision authorizing $50 million to fund nursing facility capital improvements.

Member Update: Governor Healey Signs Into Law the Economic Development Bill: Includes $50 Million Authorization for Nursing Facility Capital Loan Program; Massachusetts Joins National Nurse Licensure Compact and Facilitates Licensure of Foreign Physicians for Underserved Regions; Governor Healey Names Robin Lipson as Permanent Head of Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA)

Member Update: MassHealth LTSS Best Practices - Verifying Eligibility and Claim Status; MassHealth Informational Webinars on MMIS Migration to Cloud System

Member Update: Legislature Enacts Consensus Economic Development Bill and Sends To Governor Healey: Includes $50 Million Authorization for Nursing Facility Capital Loan Program; IMPORTANT MASSHEALTH NOTICE FOR NURSING FACILITY BILLING - MassHealth Final Submission Deadline Claims Process for Issues Relating to the October 2023 Transition from MMQ to MDS; US Department of Labor’s Overtime Rule Struck Down by Federal Judge; MAVRIC Webinar for Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Pronouncers; Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; Mass Senior Care Clinical & Regulatory Committee Meeting; CMS Leadership National Call

Member Update: MassHealth MMIS Amazon Web Services (AWS) Migration: November Billing Deadline

Join DPH and Mass Senior Care for a webinar on Successfully Navigating the Informal Dispute Resolution Process (IDR), and the Independent Informal Dispute Process (IIDR) Tuesday, November 19, 2024 1:00 pm –3:00 pm

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Nurse Aide Registry Services (NARS) announced its testing vendor, D & S Headmaster (“D&S”), will begin offering the nurse aide certification exam in Haitian Creole, in addition to Spanish, Chinese, and English.

The 2025 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Intent to Apply (ITA) period is open, but the deadline to apply is next week! AHCA encourages applicants who plan to apply for a 2025 Quality Award to submit an ITA by logging into the Quality Award Portal before the deadline on November 14, 2024. Applicants will receive an automatic discount on the overall application fee when submitting a 2025 application.

The CDC has endorsed two new recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the COVID and pneumonia vaccines.

The SNF Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the January 2025 refresh.

Staffing data for July 1 – September 30, 2024, is due by 11:59 p.m. EST on November 14. Nursing facilities are encouraged to submit their data early and review the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of submissions.

Join us as we gather for our 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14th at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA!

Member Update: Nurse Aide Certification Testing Available in Haitian Creole Starting December 2nd; CMS Extends Due Date for All Medicare Revalidations to May 1, 2025; CDC Updates Guidance for COVID-19 and Pneumonia Vaccines

Member Update: COVID-19 Vaccination Rates; Mass Senior Care Testifies at EOHHS Rate Year 2025 Nursing Home Rate Regulation Public Hearing; Lawmakers Ask CMS to Monitor Medicare Advantage Plan – Focus on Inappropriate Prior Approval Methods; CMS Issues Final Rule Impacting Nursing Home NHSN Reporting Starting January 1, 2025

On October 30th, Wingate at Silver Lake hosted early voting for residents, marking a significant moment in the lead-up to the 2024 Election.

Mass Senior Care is once again offering AHCA/NCAL Quality Award workshops to help members better understand how to complete the application from beginning to end with coaching support along the way from expert trainers.

What’s Ahead for SNF QRP: Insights, Innovations, and Impacts; Successfully Navigating the Informal Dispute Resolution Process (IDR), and the Independent Informal Dispute Process (IIDR)

On Monday of this week, Massachusetts Senior Care Association (MSCA) was pleased to participate in the Western Massachusetts Healthcare Summit hosted by UMass Amherst. The session began with a keynote by Kate Walsh, Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. 

On October 1, 2024, The Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) released important information regarding the contribution amounts that need to be remitted by eligible employees and employers beginning on January 1, 2025.

On October 23, 2024, CMS released Fiscal 2025 State Performance Standards System Guidance for State Survey Agency. The State Performance Standards System is used to measure how successful surveyors are in inspecting Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is pleased to share the Vote 2024 campaign to ensure the long term care community has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections.

Building on its 39-year legacy of assisting long term care staff in furthering their education, the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation is proud to announce its 2024 Foundation Scholars.

On October 18, the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living held elections for the 2024/2025 term.

Re: Member Update: MassHealth Issues Provider Bulletin Listing Changes to MassHealth’s Accountable Care Organizations Effective January 1, 2025; COVID-19 Vaccination Reminder; Division of Insurance Stakeholder Listening Session – Prior Authorization for Post-Acute Services

Member Update: REMINDER: COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination Requirement for Health Care Personnel (HCP); CHIA Extends Deadline for Nursing Facility Data Validation Template Review

Countdown to Compliance: Implementation Strategies for Meeting the Patient Billing Transparency Law; Best Practices for Filing Medicaid Applications: Steps You Need to Know About MassHealth Nursing Facility Eligibility; What’s Ahead for SNF QRP: Insights, Innovations, and Impacts; Successfully Navigating the Informal Dispute Resolution Process (IDR), and the Independent Informal Dispute Process (IIDR)

Join clinicians, educators, policymakers, and healthcare organizations from across the state to share and problem-solve the needs of our healthcare system. There is no cost to attend.

RTI International, on behalf of CMS, is seeking feedback on the possible expansion of collection and submission of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment data used for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) to include all residents receiving short-term skilled care in a SNF regardless of payer.

Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff especially as we enter respiratory virus season. At the expiration of the PHE, DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness.

The Boston Office of CMS will host a series of webinars focusing on the Medicare provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its impact on healthcare.

Thousands of Massachusetts residents may soon lose access to their doctors due to a reimbursement dispute between their insurer Point32Health and Children’s Hospital, UMASS Hospital and Tenet Hospital.

Mass Senior Care is pleased to welcome new members to our Association.

Register now for our 2024 Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Thursday, November 14th at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge, MA!

Member Update: Informal Dispute Resolution Meeting; Don't Miss Out on Upcoming MSCA Webinars

Member Update: House Passes Closeout Bill to Cover Prior Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Gap; Register Now for Upcoming MSCA Webinars

Member Update: Employer Incentives and Supports for Hiring Work-Authorized New Immigrants; Secure Your Spot Today for Two New Webinars with MassHealth and Mass Senior Care

The SNF Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the January 2025 refresh.