Regulatory Alert- Mandate on COVID Vaccination for Healthcare Workers

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced today that emergency regulations requiring vaccinations for nursing home workers will be expanded to include hospitals, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical settings, and home health agencies, among others, as a condition for participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The decision was based on the continued and increasing spread of the virus in health care settings, especially in parts of the U.S. with higher incidence of COVID-19.

CMS has also indicated that they will soon implement requirements for surveyors from State Agencies and accrediting organizations to be fully vaccinated. There is also discussion on how State Agencies and accrediting organizations will assure that Medicare providers are in compliance.

In addition, the Joint Commission has announced that it will require all employees who travel to health care organizations for surveys, reviews, and other onsite activities to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. This action will help protect Joint Commission staff, as well as frontline health care workers, staff, and patients in the health care organizations that The Joint Commission accredits, certifies, and works with on quality improvement activities.

If your organization needs guidance or recommendations, contact Onward Regulatory Solutions.