Massachusetts — Gov. Charlie Baker (R) in October disclosed that he has begun instituting a round of reforms intended to better keep nursing home residents safe during the winter amid the pandemic.
The reforms, which are part of the Accountability and Supports Package 2.0, include requiring nursing homes to take steps to reduce or eliminate rooms with more than two residents to improve infection control standards and resident quality of life. This represents an initial effort to remove three- and four-resident rooms in facilities.
The reforms also include $82 million in restructured Medicaid rates to incentivize care for high-acuity special populations. They also impose stricter criteria for facilities that establish isolation spaces for COVID-19-positive residents being discharged from hospitals. Such facilities must have a high Department of Public Health quality score, meet specific staffing and PPE requirements and have zero deficiencies on DPH infection control surveys.
From the November 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
