CMS Updates COVID Vaccine Requirements for Staff
October 31st, 2022 - Wyn Staheli
On October 26, 2022, CMS announced revisions to their policies regarding COVID-19 staff vaccination requirements and combined all previous memorandums into a single policy applicable to all states. There is a long list of CMS-providers and suppliers that are required to have their staff vaccinated as of February 20, 2022. This list includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice, and many other types of facilities and healthcare providers.
Be sure to review their revised memorandum (see References below) to see these changes. They have put changes in red for easy identification. There are separate attachments for different types of facilities (e.g., ASC, ESRD, home health) so check to see if there are unique requirements for your type of organization.
Keep in mind that this memorandum only applies to the facility types defined in the memorandum. There are certain allowable exceptions such as medical exemptions (e.g., allergic reaction) noted in the CDC guidance. Any exceptions must be documented as described in the memorandum.
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