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Archive July 2026

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Reminder: Q2 2026 Residential Care Staffing Data Due July BY July 31st

The required Residential Care staffing survey is coming due soon.
 LD 979, enacted by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, included a mandatory legislative review of the Department's updated Chapter 113: Assisted Housing Programs Licensing Rule.
Under the revised rule, the Division of Licensing and Certification is required, no less frequently than quarterly, to collect specific staffing and census data from providers. This includes: (1) Daily staffing numbers for each shift, (2) Use of temporary staff, (3) Staff turnover rates, and (4) Daily resident census.
  This survey asks you to enter information for April, May, and June 2026.  The submission deadline for this information is Friday, July 31, 2026.
 Don’t wait, submit soon using this link Q2 2026 Assisted Housing Staffing Data Entry Form Survey
 Staff contact: mcarland[at]mehca.org
 

CMS Rescinds Prior Voting Guidance, Issues New Special Alert on Resident Voting Rights

On July 20, 2026, CMS issued QSSAM-26-04-NH, a Quality & Safety Special Alert Memo reminding nursing homes of their obligation to protect residents' right to vote — while formally rescinding the two prior QSO memos on the topic, QSO-21-02-NH (2020) and QSO-24-21-NH (2024). CMS notes the new memo doesn't create new regulatory requirements or update the State Operations Manual; it reinforces the existing standard under 42 C.F.R. § 483.10(b) that residents retain full voting rights and must be free from facility interference, coercion, or influence.
The alert was prompted by recent enforcement cases, including a Texas social worker facing 134 felony election-fraud counts for registering residents without consent, and a Wisconsin investigation into mail-in ballots allegedly submitted on behalf of residents with diminished capacity. CMS is clear that facilities may not register residents to vote or complete ballots on their behalf without authorization and must notify a resident's authorized representative of any change in the resident's voting-related legal or civil rights.
Centers should ensure residents who need voting assistance can choose their own helper — including their authorized representative — and CMS encourages coordinating with state election officials to bring in bipartisan election workers where state law allows, reducing reliance on facility staff. Residents or representatives who believe these rights have been violated can file a complaint with the State Survey Agency orr refer allegations of coercion to the DOJ Civil Rights Division at 800-253-3931 or voting.section@usdoj.gov.
 
Staff contact: mcarland[at]mehca.org

Expand Hiring Opportunities

Looking for a new way to attract employees? Maybe it's time to try the Registered Apprenticeship program.
 
The Registered Apprenticeship program is career development, during which employers train their future workers, and the workers get paid to learn on the job, go to school and earn a nationally recognized certificate. Best of all, Maine's Apprenticeship Program, run through the Maine Dept. of Labor, helps offset costs for employers with Registered Apprenticeship programs. 
  • 90% of people who go through a Registered Apprenticeship program remain with their employer 1 year later. 
Want to learn more? Check out some of these upcoming webinars:
  • PGC hosting, the Build a Strong Direct Care Workforce Apprenticeship webinar--August 6 @ Noon-1pm, link here. 
  • Maine Dept. of Labor hosting, Maine's Apprenticeship Program: Info Session--August 11 @ 11am, link here
Staff contact: ablack[at]mehca.org

Testing for multiple Respiratory Viruses

Dr. David Gifford of AHCA NCAL recently shared the following update:

A frequent question I get during respiratory virus season is: "Should I test for multiple viruses at once (parallel testing) or test one virus first and only test further if the first result is negative (series testing)?" A new JAMA Internal Medicine randomized trial and accompanying editorial help answer that question for long-term care.

The study found that nursing homes using point-of-care multiplex PCR (testing simultaneously for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV) did not reduce the number of outbreaks, but they did identify more cases earlier, started influenza antivirals sooner, and reduced hospital transfers by about 11% (4 fewer ED transfers per 100 beds each respiratory season). Importantly, facilities with multiplex PCR tested residents with mild or atypical symptoms more readily because they could quickly rule in or rule out multiple respiratory viruses with one test.

So how would I use this information to direct my testing strategy?

If I know that one virus is overwhelmingly circulating in our community (for example, influenza activity is very high while COVID-19 and RSV activity are low), testing in series may be a reasonable and cost-effective approach. However, one must keep in mind the false-negative rate of the test you are using. Rapid antigen tests, particularly for influenza, have ok but not great sensitivity. A negative result should not be used to rule out infection in a resident with compatible symptoms. If clinical suspicion remains high, continue appropriate transmission-based precautions and obtain PCR testing when available.

When multiple respiratory viruses are circulating simultaneously or when rapid diagnosis will change treatment or infection prevention decisions, parallel testing with a multiplex PCR would be the preferred strategy. The evidence suggests that earlier, more accurate diagnosis helps make better clinical decisions for anti-viral treatment and avoid unnecessary hospital transfers.
  
Staff contact: mcarland[at]mehca.org

IP3 Meetings

The QIO is back with their IP3 (Infection Prevention for Infection Preventionists for Infection Preventionists)
The next meeting will be Thursday, July 23, 2026 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
 
Registration Link: https://ipro.webex.com/weblink/register/r20d34307d1d3869fa9e02d37f8118eb6
 
If you have trouble with the link, try copying and pasting the link into your browser
 
 
Staff Contact: mcarland[at]mehca.org
 

Prepare Now for Influenza Season: Integrating Influenza Prevention into LTC QAPI Programs

Join the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic CMS QIN-QIO for an educational session designed to help long-term care teams strengthen influenza preparedness, improve vaccination efforts, and integrate prevention strategies into their Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs. 
 
What You'll Learn:
  • Influenza risks and impact in long-term care settings
  • Key steps for seasonal vaccination preparedness
  • Strategies to improve resident and staff vaccination rates
  • How to use surveillance data to drive improvement
  • Practical ways to incorporate influenza prevention into QAPI activities and Performance Improvement Projects (PIPs) 
 
Date: July 21, 2026 - Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
https://ipro.webex.com/weblink/register/rf84b325fca778072bb897d7ffbcb7bf3

Presenters: Melanie Ronda, MSN, RN, LTC-CIP, CPHQ and Mary Ellen Casey, MSN, RN, M.Ed., CIC 

Protect residents, strengthen staff preparedness, and position your facility for a successful respiratory virus season through proactive planning and data-driven quality improvement.

Click Here to Enroll in the Northeast CMS QIN-QIO
  
Staff contact: mcarland[at]mehca.org

CMS Updates Five-Star Technical User’s Guide for July 2026 Refresh

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted an update to the Five-Star Quality Rating System Technical User’s Guide, effective with the July 2026 refresh. CMS is implementing an increase to the Quality Measure (QM) rating thresholds, increasing each rating threshold by one-half of the average improvement in QM scores (as previously outlined in QSO 19-08-NH).  
What does this mean for nursing home provider??s?  
While the thresholds used to assign QM star ratings have increased, the point thresholds for the individual Quality Measures have not changed. As a result, some facilities may need higher overall QM performance to maintain the same QM star rating. 
Questions about the Five-Star Quality Rating System may be sent to regulatory@ahca.org
 
Staff contact: mcarland[at]mehca.org

Q2 2026 Residential Care Staffing Data Due July BY July 31st

The required Residential Care staffing survey is coming due soon.

LD 979, enacted by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, included a mandatory legislative review of the Department's updated Chapter 113: Assisted Housing Programs Licensing Rule.

Under the revised rule, the Division of Licensing and Certification is required, no less frequently than quarterly, to collect specific staffing and census data from providers. This includes: (1) Daily staffing numbers for each shift, (2) Use of temporary staff, (3) Staff turnover rates, and (4) Daily resident census.
 
This survey asks you to enter information for April, May, and June 2026.  The submission deadline for this information is Friday, July 31, 2026.
 
Don’t wait, submit soon using this link Q2 2026 Assisted Housing Staffing Data Entry Form Survey
 
Staff contact: mcarland[at]mehca.org

Webinar: What Every Employer Needs to Know About I-9 Enforcement, ICE Audits, and Audit Readiness in 2026


On July 28th at 3pm, global immigration law firm, Fragomen will host a webinar suitable for HR and LTC administration focused on providing information about I-9 Enforcement, ICE Audits, and Audit Readiness in 2026.

I-9 compliance requirements are changing fast, and the cost of falling behind has never been higher. With ICE worksite enforcement on the rise, a new government Fact Sheet reclassifying common I-9 errors as substantive violations, and E-Verify mandates expanding across the country, employers face greater compliance and audit risk than at any point in recent history.

Join this a free, one-hour webinar breaking down the current I-9 enforcement landscape, the latest changes to ICE audit guidelines, and a practical framework for assessing your organization's employment eligibility verification program.
‍
What you'll learn:
  • How ICE worksite enforcement and I-9 audit activity are escalating in 2025–2026
  • What the new ICE Fact Sheet means for employer liability and I-9 penalties
  • Which I-9 errors are now classified as substantive violations — and what fines apply
  • How to conduct an internal I-9 audit and identify gaps in your verification process
  • Federal and state E-Verify compliance requirements employers need to know
  • First steps to strengthen your I-9 compliance program before an audit arrives
To register: The New Rules of I-9 Compliance: Fines, Audits, and How to Stay Ahead

 

Advertise in this Year’s Directory & Buyer’s Guide – Deadline to Submit Ads is August 28th!

The Directory is a great resource for consumers, providers, vendors, and long term care stakeholders. The Directory will be printed and distributed onsite at our upcoming Fall Health Care Conference & Expo (October 27-29), with an electronic copy distributed to all MHCA members after the conference.
 
Pricing:
 
Quarter Page Ad (4.5” w x 1.5” h)
Black/white: $100 OR Color: $125
 
Half Page (4.5” w x 3.5” h)
Black/white: $175 OR Color: $225
 
Full Page (4.5” w x 7” h)
Black/white: $250 OR Color: $325
 
Features of this valued publication include:
A complete listing of all Maine long term care facilities by county - MHCA members are differentiated;
A listing of all organizational members of MHCA
A directory of important governmental and regulatory agencies and contacts;
An advertising/buyer’s guide showcasing vendors of long term care services and products - indexed by type of business;
A listing of Fall Conference Exhibitors;
With the electronic publication, we added navigational features, like bookmarks, for ease of finding information and facility listings. We also hyperlink to websites and email addresses.
 
Specifications:
Sized, camera-ready advertisements are preferred;
Electronic files format preferences (300 dpi): tif, jpeg, PDF. Be sure to collect fonts for PDFs.
If artwork is not camera-ready, we can produce your advertisement from business cards, letterhead or other copy you provide.
 
If you need assistance in creating an ad, we would be happy to help you.
 
Online Order Form/Ad Upload

All ads must be received by August 28. Ad copy can also be emailed directly to dchicoine[at]mehca.org.
 
Staff contact: dchicoine[at]mehca.org
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