105 CMR 150.001
Definitions
Activities and Recreation Program shall mean regularly scheduled recreational, spiritual,
educational, entertainment, craft and work-oriented activities.
Administrator shall mean the person charged with general administration of the facility.
Aversive Interventionsshall mean any intervention technique based upon behavior modification
principles that applies painful, seclusive or intrusive methods, stimuli, or punishments to a
resident in order to correct, decrease or eliminate any undesirable behaviors.
BA Social Worker shall mean an individual who holds a bachelor’s degree, from an
undergraduate program in social work or who holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited
college or university and has been employed in a social work capacity for one year in a
community health or social service agency.
Behavior Modification Trainer shall mean an individual who has a minimum of a bachelor’s
degree in special education or psychology with training and experience in behavior modification
as it relates to the developmentally disabled person.
Carry-over Services shall mean services of a Medicare/Medicaid certified Skilled Nursing
Facilities/Nursing Facility (SNF/NF), provided throughout all hours of the resident’s day, which
complement, reinforce and are consistent with any specialized services [as defined by the
resident’s Rolland Integrated Service Plan (RISP)] the resident with DD/ORC is receiving or is
required to receive by the State.
Certified Facility shall mean a long-term care facility certified to participate in the Medicare or
Medicaid programs.
Change of Ownership shall mean in the case of a corporation the transfer of the majority of stock
thereof, and in all other cases, transfer of the majority interest therein.
Community Support Resident. Note: No resident shall be evaluated or determined to be a
Community Support Resident without his or her consent. Any resident meeting criteria as a
potential Community Support Resident must be asked if he or she is interested in receiving the
mental health and support services available to a Community Support Resident as described in
105 CMR 150.000 and asked to sign a form expressing his or her interest in receiving services
and consenting to evaluation and designation.
(1) A Potential Community Support Resident is defined as follows: An individual in need
of Level IV services who meets at least one of the following criteria (These criteria are to
assist in identifying residents who may be in need of service and are not sufficient to
determine final designation status):
(a) Has been referred to the facility from a Department of Mental Health or another
psychiatric facility;
(b) Has a current diagnosis of mental illness;
(c) Receives a major antipsychotic from staff and is unable to self-administer; and/or
(d) Currently receives mental health services.
(2) A Designated Community Support Resident is defined as a resident who
(a) Following identification as a potential Community Support Resident, expresses
interest in receiving the mental health and support services available to a Community
Support Resident as described in 105 CMR 150.000, and consents in writing (if he or she
is competent to give such consent), or whose guardian consents (if he or she is not
competent) to evaluation to determine if he or she is eligible for the additional services
described in 105 CMR 150.000; and
(b)
Is judged on mental health evaluation by a psychiatrist or other mental health
clinician as recognized under Massachusetts law, such as a licensed psychologist,
licensed independent clinical social worker, or psychiatric nurse mental health clinical
specialist, to exhibit a current mental health problem associated with sufficient
behavioral and functional disabilities in activities of daily living, memory, cognition,
socialization skills, etc. such that the resident could benefit from the services as described
in 105 CMR 150.000 as appropriate for a Community Support Resident.
Community Support Resident Support Services Plan shall mean an individualized written plan
designed to identify and meet the support services needs of Community Support Residents.
Dental Hygienist shall mean an individual who is currently registered with the Massachusetts
Board of Registration in Dentistry pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 51.
Dentist shall mean an individual registered by the Board of Registration in Dentistry under
M.G.L. c. 112, § 45.
Department shall mean the Department of Public Health.
Department of Public Health – Medical Review Team (MRT) shall mean a Department
administered multi-disciplinary, interagency team of professionals with clinical training and/or
experience in the care and treatment of individuals younger than 22 years old with multiple
handicaps. The MRT has responsibility for determining the eligibility of such individuals for
nursing home care. The purpose of the MRT review is to ensure only individuals who meet
appropriate criteria are certified as eligible for residential care at a long-term care facility.
Developmental Disabilities/Other Related Conditions (DD/ORC) shall mean a severe, chronic
disability that meets all of the following conditions:
(1) Cerebral palsy or epilepsy; or
(2) Any other condition, other than mental illness, requiring treatment or services similar
to those required for these persons:
(a) It is manifested before the person reaches 22 years old;
(b) It is likely to continue indefinitely;
(c) It results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas
of major life activity:
1. Self-care;
2. Understanding and use of language;
3. Learning;
4. Mobility;
5. Self-direction; and
6. Capacity for independent living.
Dietary Services shall mean the planning, preparation and serving of routine and therapeutic
diets.
Dietitian shall mean an individual licensed as a dietitian by the Board of Registration of
Dietitians and Nutritionists.
Direct Care Worker means a staff member whose work involves extensive resident contact or
administrative decisions regarding care. Direct Care Worker shall not be limited to those
workers employed by the nursing home, and shall include contracted workers who provide direct
care to residents. Direct Care Worker shall include, but not be limited to: the medical director,
registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified
nurse aides, activities personnel, feeding assistants, social workers, dietary aides, and all
occupational, physical, and speech therapy staff. Office-based practitioners whose primary
practice site is not in the long-term care facility are exempt from the definition of Direct Care
Workers. Examples of exempt practitioners include, but are not limited to: podiatrists, dentists
or primary care providers that are part of on-call medical coverage arrangements.
Emergency shall mean a situation or condition presenting imminent danger of death or serious
physical harm to residents, or others.
Food Service Supervisor shall mean an individual who is a high school graduate or the
equivalent, has completed at least one course in food service supervision and has had at least one
year of supervisoryexperience in the planning, preparation and service of food in a health facility
or group feeding situation.
Guardian shall mean a person appointed by the court to make medical decisions on behalf of an
adult who has a clinically diagnosed medical condition and is unable to make or communicate
effective decisions about their everyday self-care, health and safety.
Hours of Care per Resident per Day (PPD) shall mean the total number of hours worked by
registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants, including certified nurse
aides, and nurse aides in training with direct resident care responsibilities for each 24-hour
period, divided by the total census of the facility for each day.
Identifiable Unit shall mean a section of a facility such as a wing, floor or ward and shall include
adjacent rooms where acceptable to the Department. For all new construction, additions,
conversions or alterations, an identifiable unit shall mean not more than 41 beds for units
providing Level I or II care, and not more than 60 beds for units providing Level III or IV care.
Levels of Long-term Care Facilities or Units.
Nursing Care Unit shall mean a unit licensed to provide Intensive Nursing and
Rehabilitative Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Skilled Nursing Care for Children, or Supportive
Nursing Care.
(2) Intensive Nursing and Rehabilitative Care Facility (Level I) shall mean a facility or units
thereof providing continuous skilled nursing care and an organized program of rehabilitation
services in addition to the minimum, basic care and services required in 105 CMR 150.000.
Level I facilities shall comply with the Conditions of Participation for Extended Care
Facilities under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-97) and shall provide
care for residents as prescribed therein.
(3) Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (Level II) shall mean a facility or units thereof that
provide continuous skilled nursing care and meaningful availabilityof rehabilitation services
and other therapeutic services in addition to the minimum, basic care and services required
in 105 CMR 150.000 for residents who show potential for improvement or restoration to a
stabilized condition or who have a deteriorating condition requiring skilled care.
(a) Skilled Nursing Care Facilities for Children (SNCFC) (Level II) shall mean a facility
or unit/s thereof providing skilled nursing care services and/or intensive supportive
nursing care services together with therapeutic treatment and habilitative services to
“multiply-handicapped” individuals birth through 22 years of age, who exhibit
medical/nursing needs requiring intervention, observation and supervision by a
multi-disciplinary team of professionals. Individuals requiring these services who are 15
through 22 years of age or who do not meet the definition of “multiply-handicapped”
may be admitted to adult (Level II or Level III) units with prior approval from the
Department’s Medical Review Team (MRT) and the Department’s licensing agency. A
SNCFC is not an appropriate facilityor unit for individuals requiring long-term custodial
care.
(b) Respite Care in a Skilled Nursing Care Facility for Children (SNCFC) shall mean
temporary, short term care of a multiply handicapped individual birth through 22 years
of age in order to provide relief to a family/primary care-giver.
(4) Supportive Nursing Care Facilities (Level III) shall mean a facility or units thereof
providing routine nursing services and periodic availability of skilled nursing, rehabilitation
and other therapeutic services, as indicated, in addition to the minimum, basic care and
services required in 105 CMR 150.000 for residents whose condition is stabilized to the point
where they need only supportive nursing care, supervision and observation.
(5) Resident Care Unit shall mean a unit licensed to provide Resident Care or Community
Support.
(6) Resident Care Facilities (Level IV) or Rest Home shall mean a facility or units thereof
that provides or arranges to provide in addition to the minimum basic care and services
required in 105 CMR 150.000, a supervised supportive and protective living environment
and support services incident to old age for residents having difficulty in caring for
themselves and who are ambulatory and do not require Level II or III nursing care or other
medically related services on a routine basis.
(7) Community Support Facilities (CSF) shall mean a Resident Care Facility in which the
Department determines 50% or more of the facility’s residents are Community Support
Residents. The Community Support Facility is the only Level IV facility allowed to routinely
admit Community Support Residents and will be expected to maintain 50% or more of these
residents. The central purpose of a CSF shall be to provide its current Community Support
Residents, and new Community Support Resident admissions, with the mental health and
support services outlined in 105 CMR 150.001. These services will be provided in order to
assure resident securityand the provision of appropriate care, as well as to maximize resident
independence, prevent reinstitutionalization, and wherever possible provide rehabilitation
and integration into the community.
License shall mean the license issued by the Department for a two-year period to a facility found
on inspection to be in full compliance with 105 CMR 150.000, a provisional license, or, upon
a change of ownership, an application for a license for a period of three months when filed with
the Department within 24 hours of such change of ownership.
Licensed Practical Nurse shall mean a nurse who is currently licensed by the Board of
Registration in Nursing to practice as a licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts.
Long-term Care Facility (LTCF) shall mean any institution whether conducted for charity or
profit that is advertised, announced or maintained for the express or implied purpose of
providing four or more individuals admitted thereto with long-term resident, nursing,
convalescent or rehabilitative care; supervision and care incident to old age for ambulatory
persons; or retirement home care for elderly persons. Long-term care facility shall include
convalescent or nursing homes, rest homes, infirmaries maintained in towns and charitable
homes for the aged. Facility as used in 105 CMR 150.000, shall mean a long-term care facility
or unit thereof and units within acute hospitals converted under provisions of St. 1988 c. 23,
§ 32.
Medical Care shall mean services provided by a physician or other primary care provider
including physical examination and diagnosis; orders for treatments, medications, diets, and
associated services; emergency care; periodic supervision and review; and determination of
appropriateness of care and placement.
Medical Director shall mean a physician who advises on the conduct of medical and medically
related services in a facility. In a SNCFC, the Medical Director shall be a pediatrician.
Multiply-handicapped Individuals shall mean individuals certified bythe MRT for nursing home
care who are between birth and 22 years of age, presenting with significant developmental
disabilities, skilled nursing care needs and who may also require intensive therapeutic treatment
and habilitative interventions.
Multiple Level Facility shall mean a facility providing two, three or four levels of care in one or
more identifiable units for each level of care.
MSW Social Worker shall mean an individual who has received at least a master’s degree from
a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Nurse Aide shall mean an individual who has successfully completed a nurses’ aide training
course.
Nursing Care shall mean services provided by licensed nursing personnel (registered nurses and
licensed practical nurses) or by nurse aides, under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed
practical nurse.
Nurse Practitioner shall mean a nurse who is authorized to practice advanced practice registered
nursing as a nurse practitioner by the Board of Registration in Nursing.
Occupational Therapist shall mean an individual licensed as an occupational therapist by the
Board of Registration of Allied Health Professionals.
Occupational Therapist Assistant shall mean an individual licensed as an occupational therapy
assistant by the Board of Registration of Allied Health Professionals.
Permanency Planning shall mean supporting and maintaining family ties for multiply
-handicapped individuals and their biological families; and working toward achieving permanent
family ties for multiply-handicapped individuals who have no ties with their biological families.
Pharmacist shall mean a pharmacist who is currently licensed by the Board of Registration in
Pharmacy.
Physician shall mean a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy who is registered by the Board
of Registration in Medicine to practice medicine in Massachusetts .
Pediatrician shall mean a physician who is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Physician Assistant shall mean a person who is licensed by the Board of Registration of
Physician Assistants.
Physical Therapist shall mean an individual who is currently licensed as a physical therapist by
the Board of Registration of Allied Health Professionals.
Physical Therapist Assistant shall mean an individual licensed as a physical therapist assistant
by the Board of Registration of Allied Health Professionals.
Primary Care Provider shall mean the physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner
responsible for the resident’s continuing medical care and periodic reevaluation.
Provisional License shall mean a license issued for not more than 180 days to a facility found
on inspection to be in substantial compliance and has demonstrated improvement and evidences
potential for achieving full compliance within said period.
Psychiatric Nurse shall mean a registered nurse who is authorized to practice advanced practice
registered nursing as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist by the Board of Registration in
Nursing.
Registered Nurse shall mean a nurse who is currently licensed by the Board of Registration in
Nursing to practice as a registered nurse in Massachusetts.
Rehabilitation Services shall mean services provided by physical therapists, occupational
therapists, and speech, hearing and language therapists for the purpose of maximum reduction
of physical or mental disability and restoration of the resident to maximum functional level. Only
Medicare certified facilities mayprovided outpatient rehabilitation services. In addition, facilities
must obtain written approval from the Department before outpatient rehabilitation services may
be provided.
Rehabilitation Services Unit shall mean a room or rooms specifically equipped for physical
therapy, occupational therapy or speech, hearing and language therapy, and staffed by therapists
in these specialties.
Resident shall mean any individual receiving care in a facility or the resident’s health care proxy,
if the resident has an activated health care proxy.
Responsible Person shall mean an individual 21 years of age or older, who has received a high
school diploma, is of good moral character and with ability to make mature and accurate
judgments. The responsible person shall also have the ability to communicate orally and in
writing in English and the primary language used by residents of a facility.
Single Level Facility shall mean a facility providing only one level of care in one or more
identifiable units.
Social Services shall mean those services provided to meet the medically-related emotional and
social needs of the resident at the time of admission, during treatment and care in the facility and
at the time of discharge.
Social Worker means an individual who is currently licensed to practice social work in
Massachusetts pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 131 under the licensure categories of Licensed
Independent Practitioner of Clinical Social Work (LICSW), or Licensed Certified Social Worker
(LCSW) or Licensed Social Worker (LSW).
Specialized Services shall mean the services specified by the State which, combined with
services provided by the Nursing Facility or other service providers, results in treatment which
meets the requirements of 42 CFR 483, § 483.440(a)(1).
Speech Pathologist or Audiologist (speech, hearing and language therapist) shall mean an
individual who is licensed by the Board of Registration for Speech-language Pathology and
Audiology.
Support Services shall mean those services provided for the benefit of Community Support
Residents in order to enhance psychosocial and physical functioning, and shall include arranging
and coordinating appointments for health and mental health visits, educational and vocational
services, as well as recreational services. Support Services also include the provision of
counseling, and coordination with the Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Support Services Coordinator shall mean an individual who has received a BA or BS degree in
a human services field of study such as Psychology, Nursing or Social Work and is employed
by a Resident Care Facility or a Community Support Facility to provide and coordinate care to
Community Support Residents. The Coordinator is responsible for arranging and coordinating
Support Services. Support Services is a term applied to a varietyof services including health and
mental health visits, educational and vocational services, as well as recreational services, which
are intended to enhance the psychosocial and physical functioning of Community Support
Residents.
Utilization Review Committee shall mean a multi-disciplinary committee consisting of at least
two physicians, a registered nurse and, where feasible, other appropriate health professionals
with responsibility to review the resident care provided in a facility or group of related facilities.
No committee member shall have a proprietary interest in the facility.