Memorandum
To: Mass Senior Care Members
From: Tara M. Gregorio, President
Re: REMINDERS: (1) CHIA Weekly Reporting Due TODAY - Monday, June 1st, and (2) Video Conferencing for Residents
Date: June 1, 2020
This is a reminder that the 4th CHIA Nursing Home Weekly data report is due today, Monday, June 1st. As a condition of MassHealth supplemental funding, nursing facilities are required to comply with this administrative requirement by submitting weekly data updated on the CHIA submissions portal. Please note that CHIA has updated its Data Submission Guide, with the only change being that resident care assistants (RCAs) should be included in all staff counts, the clinical absence rate calculation, and the hours per patient day.
Also, please note that nursing facilities are required to provide all residents access to regular video conferencing by May 31, 2020, for the purpose of enabling live video communications with family members. It is recommended that facilities have, at a minimum, a sufficient supply of facility-owned video communication devices, a policy for residents and their families to request/schedule virtual visits, and a department overseeing the program. Infection Control Auditors will be assessing compliance with the 28-Infection Control Competency Checklist AND will inquire about the facility's video conferencing policy. Please keep in mind that infection control protocols must be adhered to when staff are assisting residents with these virtual visits. To help us establish best practices, please share your facility’s virtual visitation policy with us by emailing it to lnguyen@maseniorcare.org.