Don't forget to register for our upcoming training: Intimate Partner Violence / Domestic Violence Training

• By: Maureen Booth
• On: 03/27/2025 11:31:44
• In: Education

While this 4-part training is tailored to the unique licensing needs of LCSW's working in long-term care, the content is also beneficial for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and the cycles of abuse. The series equips participants with essential knowledge and tools to better support individuals in long-term care who may be affected by abuse.

April 16th 

• Module I ~ Exploring the Context & Behaviors of Individuals who Abuse Their Partners 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Module II ~ IPV and Diverse Populations 1:00 – 4:00 PM

April 17th

• Module III ~ Assessing for IPV 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Module IV ~ Empowerment-based, Trauma-informed practice with Survivors of IPV 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Register Here!
For the full course description, flyer, and additional course information, please visit our website here.

As always, we're here to support your growth every step of the way. Feel free to contact MHCA should you have any questions! 207.623.1146.

Maine Dementia Care Partnership

• By: Maureen Carland
• On: 03/27/2025 11:21:46
• In: Quality/Regulatory

This week, the Maine Dementia Care Partnership (DCP) was reawakened as part of the QuEST initiative under rate reform. We want to thank everyone who attended and look forward to sharing more about the initiative in the coming weeks.

The presentation slides and chat transcript will be distributed via email by the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS). If you haven’t already signed up to receive these updates, you can do so by emailing OADS.NFQuality@maine.gov.

The current DCP toolbox includes two key resources:

1. A concise booklet outlining the core steps.
2. A more comprehensive guide filled with additional resources to support implementation.

We highly recommend starting with the booklet before diving into the larger resource as you work through the steps.
Next up: we’ll be updating the toolkit—stay tuned!
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org
 

Reminder: Registration is Open for the 2025 Assisted Living Conference!

• By: Maureen Booth
• On: 03/27/2025 11:17:25
• In: Education

This is a friendly reminder to register for the 2025 Assisted Living Conference before April 9th! This event is designed specifically for those working in Assisted Living (AL), Independent Living (IL), and Residential Care Communities. The Assisted Living Conference will be held on April 23 at the Augusta Civic Center. 

What to Expect:

• Focus on industry trends, regulatory updates, evidence-based practices, and innovative ideas
• Networking opportunities with peers, sharing insights, collaborating on challenges
• Strategies for enhancing the health and well-being of your residents

Register Now!
Secure your spot today by clicking here.
For details on the conference, brochure, registration, and sponsorship opportunities, visit our website here.

Vendor Info:
The Assisted Living Conference is an educational event only—no exhibiting or marketing is permitted. Vendors must be sponsors to attend. We currently have 3 seminar sponsorships available for $500 each.
Sponsorship includes:

• Registration for one representative
• Listing in the conference brochure
• Premium session ad on PowerPoint
• Recognition of your representative at the event

For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Dianne Chicoine at dchicoine@mehca.org.

Important Reminder:
Before registering, please review our Education Policies and Procedures page.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference! Feel free to reach out to the MHCA if you have any questions at 207-623-1146.

MaineCare Temporary Payment Holds

• By: Angela Westhoff
• On: 03/27/2025 07:12:48
• In: Legislative/Government Affairs

Long term care facilities have not yet been identified by the Office of MaineCare Services for any payment curtailments. We continue to monitor the situation closely. MaineCare has asked us to be sure providers receive their updates so we are including them in E-news.

Supplemental Budget  
On February 10, 2025, MaineCare sent a notice stating if the Legislature did not pass the Fiscal Year 2025 supplemental budget request to fill the MaineCare shortfall, the Department would not have sufficient funds to pay MaineCare providers in full through the end of the fiscal year.  

On February 26, 2025, MaineCare sent a notice informing providers that the Legislature did not pass the supplemental budget with sufficient votes to enact the bill immediately. The Department is now temporarily withholding certain payments to MaineCare providers.?

MaineCare has since sent the following messages with details regarding weekly payment cycle holds: 

• March 5, 2025 

• March 19, 2025 

In response to provider feedback, MaineCare sent an additional e-message with supporting language for providers who may be receiving MaineCare member concerns. MaineCare continues to send details about weekly payment cycle holding through e-messages. They do not have information about when we can release held payments but will share additional information as we have it.  
 
Stay Informed 
Please subscribe to the e-message service to stay informed. You can also go to the MaineCare Bulletins webpage to see e-messages about this topic and others. Please contact your Provider Relations Specialist with questions. 
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

Chapter 113 Assisted Housing Programs Licensing Rule Public Hearing Scheduled for April 1st

• By: Angela Westhoff
• On: 03/27/2025 07:12:02
• In: Legislative/Government Affairs

On Tuesday, April 1^st before the Health and Human Services Committee, a public hearing will be held at 1:00 pm on LD 979, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 113: Assisted Housing Programs Licensing Rule, a Late-filed Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

The Assisted Housing Programs rulemaking effort consists of taking 10 different sections of statutes including Assisted Living, Residential Care Facilities Levels I-IV, and Private Non-Medical Institutions (PNMI-C), and Infection Control and condenses them into two sections. The two new licensing rules are for Part A: Assisted Living Facilities and Part B: Residential Care Facilities.

There have been changes from the first set of proposed rules to the now provisionally adopted rules. These changes are based upon feedback received from commenters at the November 13^th public hearing. Most concerning for long term care providers are the increased staffing ratios. While these staffing ratios are modified and include a phase-in approach, the work force crisis and lack of any funding at all continued to present significant challenges for Maine’s assisted living and residential care providers. MHCA stands strongly opposed to the rules and continues to advocate for a collaborative approach that includes meaningful input from residents, families and providers. An info session was held on March 27^th to review the rules. Providers are encouraged to testify at the April 1^st public hearing in person, via Zoom, or to submit written comments.

For more information, contact MHCA President/CEO Angela Westhoff.

Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

Nursing Facilities Principles of Reimbursement Public Comment Deadline is March 27th at 11:59 pm

• By: Angela Westhoff
• On: 03/27/2025 07:10:52
• In: Legislative/Government Affairs

The Office of MaineCare Services posted a Notice of Agency Rule-making Proposal for MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 67, Principles of Reimbursement for Nursing Facilities back in February. A public hearing on the revised Nursing Facilities Principles of Reimbursement was held on Monday, March 10^th. The Maine Health Care Association President/CEO Angela Westhoff testified at the public hearing and submitted extensive written comments.

The comment deadline is Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Comments may be submitted on-line via the website here. Additionally, your comments can be sent directly to Derrick Grant, Policy Manager via email: derrick.grant@maine.gov.

Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

MHCA 2025 Remember ME - Sponsors Needed!

• By: Dianne Chicoine
• On: 03/26/2025 16:31:10
• In: Special Events

MHCA's 2025 Remember ME recognition ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. We will be honoring 32 residents with Lifetime Achievement Awards (see list below). The ceremony will feature black and white photographs and brief biographies of pioneering, innovative and interesting residents living in Maine's long term care facilities. 

Help make this a great day for residents by becoming a sponsor!
 

• Event Sponsors: $6,000 (3 remaining at $1,500 each) Event sponsorship includes support for honorees' exhibits, including the photography. Sponsors to date: Guardian Pharmacy
• Program Booklet: $3,000 (1 remaining at $1,000) Sponsors to date: Preferred Therapy Solutions, National Health Care Associates/Westgate Center for Health and Rehabilitation
• Live Stream/Videography: $1,750 (1 remaining at $875) Sponsors to date: Bella Point
• Refreshments: $1,500 (2 available at $750 each)
• Decorations/Flowers: $1,250 (1 remaining at $625) Sponsors to date: Schooner Estates Senior Living Community
• SOLD Music: $500 Sponsor: Dirigo Pines
• SOLD Achievement Awards: $425 Sponsor: Maine Veterans' Homes
• Supporter: $350 Sponsors to date: Scarborough Terrace

Our thanks to the following annual sponsors for their support: Sysco, Cross Insurance, Medline, Preferred Therapy Solutions. We also extend appreciation to the Power of Care program for its support.

All sponsors will be recognized on promotional, media, and event materials. We appreciate any assistance you can lend. We look forward to celebrating safely with members and residents at this event! Click here to secure your sponsorship today! 

Staff contact: dchicoine@mehca.org

MHCA Wage & Fringe Benefit Survey - deadline extended to April 14th!

• By: Dianne Chicoine
• On: 03/26/2025 16:23:41
• In: Announcements/Reminders

We have extended the deadline to complete this year's Wage & Fringe Benefit Survey to April 14th! We want to ensure that members have ample opportunity to complete the survey, as the data is important for our advocacy and legislative efforts. As always, individual responses will remain confidential.
 
If you need a copy of the survey sent to you (or other staff member), please contact Dianne at the Association office (207.623.1146, ext. 201)
 
Staff Contact: dchicoine@mehca.org

Changes in SNF Medicare Cost Reports

• By: Maureen Carland
• On: 03/26/2025 09:38:54
• In: Quality/Regulatory

For the first time in 15 years changes are being made to the SNF Medicare Cost Reports.  The cost report changes will allow CMS to refine SNF Market Basket modeling, have information for a possible SNF wage index, and most importantly break out Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid. A few of the more substantial modifications include:  

• Separate reporting of Medicare Advantage/Medicare HMO days, Medicaid HMO days, admissions, and discharges.  

• Reporting of revenue for room and board and ancillaries for different payors, including Medicare Advantage and Medicaid HMO stays separately.  

• Improvements to contract labor reporting. 

AHCA will host a webinar on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 2 PM Eastern to educate AHCA members on these updates.  The new form was recently updated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is to be used for reporting periods ending on or after September 30, 2025. 
During the webinar, AHCA will review the information necessary to capture in the revenue cycle and financial systems to prepare for and file the new report. Advance registration is required. 

Click Here to Register
 
Staff Contact: Mcarland@mehca.org

Mandatory SNF Provider Enrollment Revalidation Deadline

• By: Maureen Carland
• On: 03/26/2025 08:42:37
• In: Quality/Regulatory

Skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers enrolled in Medicare or Medicare/Medicaid must submit a mandatory off-cycle provider enrollment revalidation by May 1, 2025. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued this mandatory process last September. While there have been multiple updates since the release, including extending the initial deadline, it is important for SNF providers to ensure completion of the revalidation process by May 1 or risk having enrollment suspended or revoked. 
 
AHCA Resources  

• AHCA will host a member-only SNF Provider Revalidation “Office Hours” webinar on Friday, March 28, from 2 – 3 PM Eastern to provide an update and answer member questions. Advanced registration is required. 
• AHCA also offers a variety of SNF provider enrollment resources available on AHCA NCAL Reimbursement website, including contact information, past webinars, feedback from CMS, and more.  

CMS Resources  

• Additionally, providers can find detailed sub-regulatory guidance information on the new organizations and individual parties required to be reported on the CMS website.  
• CMS also offers a step-by-step screenshot of instructions on completing an application via the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). 

 
Read More Here
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org