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Long Term Care Facility circular letters

See circular letters for Long Term Care Facilities, including nursing homes and rest homes.
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General Nursing Homes and Rest Homes circular letters

Memo Dated September 12, 2022: Updated Admission of Residents on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) to Long-Term Care Facilities 
Memo dated October 29, 2021 – DPH Guidance to Nursing Homes on Good Faith Efforts to Meet Deadline for Compliance with Resident Bedroom 2-Bed Maximum Requirement 
Nursing Home Good Faith Efforts Attestation (DOCX 73.81 KB)
Memo dated 10/13/2021 – Fines for Violations of State Long-term Care Facility Regulations 
Memo: Tuberculosis Screening, Testing and Treatment of Healthcare Personnel – November 2019 
Circular Letter: DHCQ 19-11-693 Clarification of the Meaning of “Ambulatory” in 105 CMR 150.000, Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities 
Seasonal influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel 
Circular Letter: #17-2-699 Revised Informed Consent for Use of Psychotropic Medications in LTCFs – 2/1/2017 (DOCX 68.99 KB)

This letter describes revised and updated policies that replace the policies and guidance published in the February 1, 2016 Circular Letter: DHCQ 16-2-653

Circular Letter: DHCQ 17-1-668 Implementation of the STEP Law: Voluntary Non-Opioid Directive Form – 1/24/2017 - English (DOCX 78.13 KB)
#16-2-654 Dementia Training Requirements for Hospice Staff Providing Care in Nursing Homes 2/1/2016 (DOC 68 KB)
Circular Letter: #16-2-653 Informed Consent for Use of Psychotropic Medications in LTCFs 2/1/2016 (DOC 97.5 KB)
#15-9-641 Revocation and Suspension of Licensure based on Fraudulent Credentials (DOC 44.5 KB)
#13-9-599 Compliance with web-based reporting of incidents and abuse using the Health Care Facility Reporting System (HCFRS) 9/17/2013 (DOC 75.5 KB)
#13-9-596 New Version of the Nursing Home Consumer Brochure 9/9/2013 (DOC 48.5 KB)
#13-9-595 Long Term Care Facility Respite Care Program 9/9/2013 (DOC 54.5 KB)
#13-7-592 Department of Public Health, MassHealth, and Department of Developmental Services Active Treatment Licensure Survey Process 7/17/2013 (DOC 45 KB)
Active Treatment Survey Document/Worksheet (DOC 855.5 KB)
Active Treatment Survey Protocol (DOC 118 KB)
#12-12-581 Informational Bulletin on the MA Collaborative for Resident-Centered Care and the Reduction in the use of unnecessary Antipsychotic medications for (LTC) residents - 12/10/2012 (RTF 50 KB)
#12-12-577 Electronic Submission of Plans of Correction - 12/10/2012 (RTF 41 KB)
#12-11-576 Transition to web-based reporting of incidents and abuse using the Health Care Facility Reporting System (HCFRS) - 11/5/2012 (DOC 65.5 KB)
#12-02-557 Fire Safety Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities, Mandatory Sprinkler Installation Requirement - 2/27/2012 (RTF 41.5 KB)
#12-01-556 Electronic Transmission of Correspondence - 1/25/2012 (RTF 43.5 KB)
#11-12-552 Use of Electronic Medical Records in Long Term Care Facilities - 12/27/2011 (RTF 45.5 KB)
#11-02-547 Change in Process for Distributing BHCS Circular Letters - Request for Email Contact Information - 2/24/2011 (RTF 60.5 KB)
DHCQ 11-01-545 - Care Transitions and Universal Transfer - 1/18/2011 (RTF 250.46 KB)
Universal Transfer Form and Instructions (RTF 25.4 MB)
#11-01-543 Long Term Care Health Maintenance Guidelines - 1/18/2011 (DOC 48 KB)
Pediatric and Adolescent Resident (XLS 45.5 KB)
Adult Residents Aged 19 to 69 (XLS 38.5 KB)
Elderly Residents Aged 70 or Older (XLS 38.5 KB)
#10-11-540 Infection Prevention during Blood Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Administration - 11/24/2010 (RTF 58 KB)
#10-11-538 Massachusetts DPH Nursing Home Brochure (Revised) - 11/2/2010 (RTF 39 KB)
Control of Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease in Long-Term Care Facilities 2010 - 2011 (RTF 222.5 KB)
#09-11-524 Waiver or Modification of Federal Requirements Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act - 11/3/2009 (RTF 50 KB)
Attachment A - waiver or modification of requirements (RTF 31 KB)
Attachment B - EMTALA Fact Sheet (RTF 171.5 KB)
Attachment C - Requesting an 1135 Waiver (RTF 47 KB)
#09-04-509 Resident Transfer Agreements - 4/28/2009 (RTF 38 KB)
#08-04-485 LTCF Communications During an Emergency - 4/4/2008 (RTF 952.5 KB)
#06-6-464 Comfort Care for Residents in Long Term Care Facilities 8/15/2006 (RTF 237.53 KB)
#06-4-459 Attestation for Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) (RTF 190.1 KB)
#05-10-451 Revised Guidelines for Long Term Care Facility Emergency Ambulance Transport Policies 10/14/2005 (RTF 135.19 KB)
#05-09-452 Stock Medications - 9/30/2005 (RTF 106.71 KB)
#05-04-448 Do Not Resuscitate Orders - 4/8/2005 (RTF 54.47 KB)
#4-00-400 Unauthorized Use of DMH Form AA-1 -4/2002 (RTF 214.93 KB)
#02-04-424 Recall of Sprinkler Heads in Health Care Facilities 4/2/2002 (RTF 221.77 KB)
Circular Letter # DHCQ-12-97-373 - NIOSH Alert: Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in the Workplace - 12/1997 (RTF 11.13 KB)

Beds Out of Service

Permanent Reduction in LTCF Number of Beds and Enforcement of Requirements (DOCX 32.05 KB)
Circular Letter: DHCQ 18-12-682 Long-Term Care Facility Beds Out of Service – New Process (DOCX 32.56 KB)
FAQs about Beds at Open Long-term Care Facilities – Temporarily or Permanently Out of Service 

Memorandums

Addition of Veteran Status Question for DPH Incident Reporting 

Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) – for nursing homes and rest homes

MOLST and Comfort Care DNR Verification 

Additional circular letters for nursing homes only - General

#15-08-639 Dementia Special Care Unit Disclosure Statement Updated Instructions 08/21/2015 (DOC 102.5 KB)
#15-02-628 Dementia Special Care Unit Annual Disclosure Statement 2/12/2015 (DOC 105.5 KB)
#14-5-615 Guidelines for Dementia Special Care Unit Regulations 5/22/2014 (DOC 143.5 KB)
Updated Information Concerning Circular Letter: DHCQ 13-11-604 12/9/2013 (DOC 44.5 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions about the Nurse Aide Registry (DOC 36.76 KB)
#13-11-604 Changes to the Nurse Aide Registry Verification Process and Statement of Deficiency/Plan of Correction Process - 11/20/2013 (DOC 42.5 KB)
#13-9-597 Additional Section S questions effective 10/1/2013: Unnecessary use of Antipsychotic Medications 9/9/2013 (DOC 42.5 KB)
MDS Section S Manual (DOC 113 KB)
#13-01-584 MDS 3.0 Section Q: Return to the Community Nursing Home Responsibilities to refer to a Local Contact Agencies - 1/23/2013 (RTF 58.5 KB)
#08-12-503 Final Deadline for Broadband Conversion for MDS/OASIS Connectivity - 12/16/2008 (PDF 29.04 KB)
#08-05-488 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in LTCFs with 24 Hour Skilled Nursing Staff On Duty (RTF 138.15 KB)
Advisory Ruling on the Initiation and Withholding of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Massachusetts Long-term Care Facilities with 24-hour Skilled Nursing Staff on Duty (RTF 182.99 KB)
Nursing Competencies Related to Advisory Ruling (RTF 66.28 KB)
Task Force Final Report (RTF 452.77 KB)
#08-04-487 Broadband Conversion for MDS/OASIS Submissions and CASPER Reporting Connectivity - 4/29/2008 (RTF 145.28 KB)
#08-03-484 Use of Cameras During the Survey Process - 3/25/2008 (RTF 151.19 KB)
CMS Memorandum S&C-06-33 (provided by CMS) 
Consent to Photograph Form (RTF 17.49 KB)
Survey Photo Log (RTF 70.83 KB)
#08-01-480 Resident Empowerment Program& VIII - Request for Response - 1/2008 (RTF 140.16 KB)
Request for Response (RFR) (RTF 81.03 KB)
#07-02-473 Emergency Preparedness at Long Term Care Facilities - 2/7/2007 (RTF 64.31 KB)
LTC Facility Survey Guidance and Provider Attestation Tool (RTF 349.91 KB)
#12-04-447 Family Councils in Nursing Homes - 1/4/2005 (RTF 128.05 KB)
#12-04-447 - Attachment A (RTF 7.84 KB)
#03-12-437 Paid Assisted Feedings - 12/2003 (RTF 111.04 KB)
#01-06-412 Standing Orders - 6/2001 (RTF 215.56 KB)
#12-00-407 Nursing Home Residents with Mental Retardation or Developmental Disability - 12/2000 (RTF 217.44 KB)

Automated external defibrillators (Nursing Homes only)

#05-06-449 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Nursing Facilities 6/15/2005 (RTF 79.64 KB)

Dispute resolution (Nursing Homes only)

#11-12-554 Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) and Independent Informal Dispute Resolution (IIDR) - 12/27/2011 (RTF 98.5 KB)
IDR and IIDR Request Cover Sheet (RTF 50 KB)

Medications (Nursing Homes only)

#18-6-679 Controlled Substances in Schedule II-V Approved for Inclusion in Long Term Care Facilities Emergency Kits (DOC 54 KB)
#03-04-433 Antipsychotic Medications - 4/2003 (RTF 234.48 KB)
#02-04-425 Medications - 4/16/2002 (RTF 219.8 KB)
#5-97-363 Management of Clostridium difficile - 5/15/1997 (RTF 56 KB)
#8-99-395 Methods to facilitate the appropriate administration of morphine sulfate - 8/9/1999 (RTF 18.17 KB)
#12-98-386 Assessment of the Medication Knowledge of Individuals Administering Medications - 12/21/1998 (RTF 15.99 KB)
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