To increase protection for both healthcare staff and patients against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced that staff working in all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
A joint announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that the current emergency regulations requiring vaccinations for nursing home workers will expand to include mandatory vaccination for staff in hospitals, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical settings, home health agencies, and other facilities, as a condition for participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
An Interim Final Rule with a Comment Period is being developed by CMS and expected to be issued in October. In the meantime, CMS is urging non-vaccinated workers in these certified facilities to begin the vaccination process immediately. Facilities are expected to begin working toward the new federal requirements through all means possible, including employee education and clinics.
Read the full release here. Need help with employee education and training? HCN can provide site-specific online education modules. Stay ahead of the anticipated regulatory compliance deadlines.