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Archive June 2025

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Infection Preventionists Meeting

MHCA will host a special Zoom meeting on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM, exclusively for Infection Preventionists working in post-acute care settings.

This meeting offers a valuable space to connect with peers, share best practices, and explore solutions to the most pressing challenges in the field. It will be a unique opportunity to network, exchange insights, and support one another as we navigate the evolving landscape of infection prevention in long-term care.

Whether you're seeking fresh strategies, looking for guidance, or hoping to expand your professional network, we hope you'll join us for this collaborative and enriching session.

Click HERE for the Zoom Meeting Link
 
Staff Contact: mcarland@mehca.org

Maine CDC Issues Public Health Advisory on Updates to Notifiable Diseases and Conditions List

On June 27, 2025, the Maine CDC issued a Public Health Advisory via the Health Alert Network (HAN). This advisory announces updates to the state’s Notifiable Diseases and Conditions List, effective June 4, 2025. This list outlines the diseases and conditions that must be reported to the Maine CDC.
Recently Adopted Changes Include:
Additions:
  • COVID-19
  • Enterococcus spp. resistant to daptomycin, linezolid, and vancomycin (DLVRE)
  • Enterococcus spp. resistant to linezolid and vancomycin (LVRE)
  • Monkeypox virus (the cause of mpox)
  • Detectable per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in serum
 Removals:
  • Acid-Fast Bacillus smears
  • Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) (*Note: Rabies PEP remains recommended but is no longer reportable*)
 Changes & Clarifications:
  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) upgraded to Category I (Immediately Reportable)
  • Clarification of reportable Hepatitis C results (acute and chronic)
  • Staphylococcus aureus non-susceptible to vancomycin (VRSA) is reportable only if MIC ≥ 8μg/mL
  • Name change: Borrelia miyamotoi is now classified as Hard Tick Relapsing Fever
  • New Specimen Submission Requirements to the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Lab (HETL):Providers must submit isolates or clinical specimens for confirmation, typing, and/or antibiotic sensitivity for the following pathogens:
  • Jamestown Canyon Virus, La Crosse Virus, and other California Serogroup viruses
  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
  • Enterococcus spp.
  • Hantavirus
  • Powassan virus
  • West Nile virus
 
Click Here to access the Full Rule.
 
 
Staff contact:mcarland@mehca.org
 

End of Session Update for Long Term Care Providers

The Maine Legislature adjourned on June 25, 2025. While many bills were sent to the Governor, others remain unfinished. Importantly, Senate Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Chair Peggy Rotundo confirmed that unfinished bills—including LD 1720—will be carried over and considered when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2026.

What LD 1720 Would Do

LD 1720 would expand benefits and training support for long term care workers. It proposes to make staff eligible for the state employee retirement system and health plan, require full reimbursement for CNA training and interpreter services, and mandate CNA exam translations into multiple languages.

Budget Outcomes for Long Term Care

The final state budget includes several important provisions:
  • A 1% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for nursing facilities and PNMI-C homes
  • A separate 1.95% COLA limited to residential care and adult family care homes (passed earlier in the session)
  • $20 million in ongoing funding to fully implement cost-of-care-based rate reform for nursing homes
  • Repeal of “Section UU,” preserving the annual rate update and rebasing process
What Happens Next
  • The Governor has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to sign or veto bills.
  • Most new laws will take effect on September 24, 2025.
  • LD 1720 will carry over and be eligible for funding in the 2026 session.

This session brought important funding improvements for long term care providers. The carryover of LD 1720 gives us another chance to push for expanded worker support in 2026. MHCA will continue to advocate for fair reimbursement and a stronger workforce throughout the interim. Additionally, stay tuned for a comprehensive update on the full legislative session. 

Please reach out if you have questions or would like to get involved.

Staff contact: bhawkins@mehca.org

Important MHCA Staffing Update

MHCA announces that Ben Hawkins, Director of Public Affairs, will be leaving the association effective July 9th. After 2.5 years with the association, Ben has decided to pursue a master’s degree and will be relocating out of state for graduate school.
 
Ben came to MHCA with a strong background in communications, public relations, and workforce development. Previously, he served as the marketing specialist for Eastern Maine Development Corporation, program coordinator for the Northeastern Workforce Development Board, and business outreach coordinator for Congressman Jim Himes. He also worked closely with a diverse team of state and regional partners to create a cohesive system that meets the workforce development needs of those affected by substance use disorder.
 
In his role as MHCA Director of Public Affairs, Ben was instrumental in many advocacy efforts including passing legislation that resulted in annual data collection and reporting of staffing agency information to increase transparency and accountability of Temporary Nurse Agencies. He also helped lead the highly successful “Who Will Care” social media campaign with action alerts, press conferences and targeted messaging that led to significant new investments in nursing facility rate reform. He has also successfully written several grant proposals, including a pilot project to develop tools and strategies to effectively recruit, support, and retain new Mainers who face barriers to employment in the long term care sector.
 
Angela Cole Westhoff, MHCA President/ CEO comments, “Ben has been a key player in MHCA’s legislative agenda and work force development initiatives. He is an extremely quick study with strong analytical and communication skills. MHCA members have appreciated his commitment to advocacy on behalf of the sector. We thank him for his service and wish him continued success in future endeavors.”
 
"It has been an immense privilege serving Maine's long term care community. The association is filled with compassionate, dedicated members, and I am grateful to have joined them in the pursuit of improving the quality and sustainability of the state's healthcare continuum," adds Ben Hawkins. 
 
Please join us in thanking Ben for his dedicated service and wishing him all the best as he pursues an advanced degree.
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

OIG to Monitor Medical Directors

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced a new plan to monitor nursing homes' engagement of medical directors, aiming to ensure centers are complying with federal requirements and maintaining appropriate oversight of resident care. Federal regulations require that every nursing home employs a medical director who is responsible for overseeing medical care and helping implement resident care policies.
As part of its oversight efforts, the OIG will assess how nursing homes contract with and utilize medical directors, including the extent of their involvement in clinical decision-making and policy implementation.

The OIG’s three-pronged study will therefore ask:
(1) To what extent are medical directors actually performing their federally required duties in nursing homes?
(2) How accurate and useful are PBJ-reported medical-director hours for Federal and State oversight agencies?
(3) What additional data sources or monitoring mechanisms could strengthen transparency around how facilities engage their medical directors?
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org
 

CMS Announces Updates to Nursing Home Care Compare and Five-Star Ratings

On June 18, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released memo QSO-25-20-NH outlining upcoming changes to the Nursing Home Care Compare website and the Five-Star Quality Rating System. These updates affect how performance data is displayed, how health inspection ratings are calculated, and how antipsychotic use and COVID-19 vaccination data are reported.

Chain-Level Performance Data to Be Posted
Beginning July 30, 2025, CMS will display performance metrics for nursing home chains, including average overall star ratings, health inspection results, staffing levels, and quality measure ratings. This information, currently available on the CMS Data website, will now be integrated into Nursing Home Care Compare in a more user-friendly format.
 
 
Health Inspection Rating Methodology Change
Also in July 2025, CMS will modify the inspection rating methodology by using only the two most recent standard surveys instead of three. This change reflects continued backlogs in survey scheduling. However, the three-year lookback for complaint and infection control surveys will remain unchanged.

Updated Antipsychotic Measure Incorporating Claims Data
Responding to concerns raised by the HHS Office of Inspector General report, CMS will revise the long-stay antipsychotic use measure to include Medicare and Medicaid claims and Medicare Advantage encounter data, supplementing the current MDS-based methodology. This update will go into effect October 29, 2025, and is expected to raise the national average of residents receiving antipsychotics from 14.64% to 16.98%. The scoring cut points will also be adjusted accordingly. Further details are available in the Five-Star Quality Rating System Technical Users’ Guide.
 
Removal of COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting
Effective July 30, 2025, CMS will remove the COVID-19 vaccination section from each nursing home’s profile page on Care Compare.  This does NOT change current NHSN reporting requirements. 

 
Related QSO CMS-2567, Process Update
In a related memo, QSO-25-19-ALL, CMS clarified that updates to the CMS-2567 release process do not change current requirements. Survey results must still be made publicly available within 14 days of being sent to the facilities, as required by regulation.
 
   
 
Staff Contact: mcarland@mehca.org

Extreme Heat: Steps for Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Centers

As temperatures climb, long-term care and assisted living facilities must take proactive measures to protect their most vulnerable residents. Elderly individuals are disproportionately at-risk during heat waves due to age-related physiological changes, chronic conditions, and medications that impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature and maintain hydration.For facilities without central air conditioning, the dangers are even more pronounced. 

Administrators and caregivers should be on high alert for signs of heat-related illness, including confusion, dizziness, rapid pulse, or flushed skin. Facilities should activate contingency plans, which may include creating internal cooling centers, increasing ventilation with fans, and rescheduling physical activities to cooler parts of the day. Simple adjustments—such as dressing residents in lightweight clothing, encouraging rest in shaded or air-conditioned areas, and checking in frequently—can make a critical difference. Staff can also refer to the CDC’s About Heat and Your Health or this Staying Safe in Hot Weather guide from the National Institute on Aging for visuals to post in common areas.

Hydration is one of the most effective and often overlooked tools for heat-related illness prevention. Older adults are especially prone to dehydration due to age-related changes in kidney function, diminished thirst response, and the effects of conditions like diabetes or heart failure. Dehydration is associated with increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), falls, cognitive decline, and hospitalization. Hydration programs which promote routine drink offerings and hydration reminders have demonstrated marked reductions in these adverse outcomes.  Even small actions—such as offering cold, caffeine-free drinks and using hydration reminders—can make a meaningful impact. In this summer heat, ensuring elderly residents stay cool and well-hydrated isn't just good care—it’s lifesaving.

These same practices can help keep your staff and team members as well. 
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org
 
 

AHCA Releases Comprehensive Hand Hygiene Toolkit

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has released a new Hand Hygiene Toolkit designed to support infection prevention efforts in long-term care settings. This resource is especially timely, as F880 – Infection Prevention and Control is currently the second most frequently cited F-tag in Maine.

Hand hygiene remains a cornerstone of effective infection prevention programs, and this toolkit offers practical strategies and tools to help Infection Preventionists (IPs) strengthen compliance and improve outcomes.
The toolkit is available at no cost to AHCA members and provides evidence-based guidance, staff education materials, and audit tools to promote best practices across your facility. We encourage all member organizations to take advantage of this valuable resource to enhance their infection control initiatives.
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org
 

Help Shape Maine’s Dementia Care Training – Survey Closes June 23

MHCA members are encouraged to complete a brief survey to support the development of a new training program for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in Maine.
 
The AgingME2 Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is developing a CNA Microcredential – Dementia Care Specialist Badge and is seeking input to ensure the training reflects the needs of the long term care workforce. This survey will help identify training gaps and inform the design of the final program.

Please note: This initiative is not part of QuEST or the Dementia Care Partnership. The survey is anonymous, takes 10–15 minutes to complete, and is open until Monday, June 23 at 5:00 PM.

Survey link: https://umaine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GRFmjuyfJwEpGm

AgingME2’s broader goal is to improve the health and wellbeing of Maine’s older adults through enhanced workforce training and practice transformation. Your input will help ensure that the Dementia Care Specialist Badge is meaningful and relevant to CNA roles in long term care.

Please share the survey link with others in your organization. If you’ve already completed it, no further action is needed. For questions, contact: len.kaye@maine.edu

Thank you for your time and feedback.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree visits Seaside Skilled Rehabilitation Center

On Tuesday, June 17th, US Representative Chellie Pingree visited Seaside Skilled Rehabilitation Center in Portland, ME. The representative toured the facility and sat down with long term care industry leaders to talk about issues impacting the sector including staffing challenges and reimbursement. One of the key topics of discussion was the Medicaid cuts being proposed in the budget reconciliation bill. The House voted mostly along party lines to approve its version of the package in late May, but the Senate has been reworking the bill in the weeks since. The latest proposal to reduce provider taxes from the current 6% down to 3.5% would be devastating to long term care, especially in a state like Maine, with 2/3 of residents in nursing homes relying on Medicaid for their care.
 
MHCA thanks board member Wanda Pelkey, CEO of First Atlantic, and the staff at Seaside for hosting the facility tour with Representative Pingree and advocating on behalf of the sector!
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
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