{"id":1424,"date":"2021-10-27T14:08:59","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T21:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medely.com\/blog\/?p=1424"},"modified":"2024-04-15T12:59:13","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T19:59:13","slug":"covid-vaccination-mandates-for-healthcare-facilities-for-healthcare-workers-an-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medely.com\/blog\/covid-vaccination-mandates-for-healthcare-facilities-for-healthcare-workers-an-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID Vaccination Mandates for Healthcare Facilities for Healthcare Workers: An Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In early September, the Biden-Harris administration announced COVID vaccination mandates for healthcare facilities are on the way for health care workers in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaccination requirements previously announced for nursing home workers will be expanded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to include approximately 50,000 CMS facilities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will also be adding to its earlier COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS)<\/a> with a large-employer mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faced with challenges from multiple directions, many health care facilities have been reluctant to be proactive with unvaccinated employees and risk exacerbating staffing shortages<\/a> that are already at crisis levels. Broadening the vaccination requirement will help ease some of those concerns, but until the rules are released\u2014expected by the end of October\u2014many administrators are still taking a wait-and-see approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll take a look at what you might expect, who will likely be impacted, and what steps your organization can take to be in compliance by the time the vaccine mandate comes into effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health and safety is the ultimate goal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new vaccine requirements were announced as part of President Biden’s action plan<\/a> to get COVID-19 cases and the burden on health systems under control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cData show that the higher the level of vaccination rates among providers and staff, the lower the infection rate is among patients who are dependent upon them for care.\u201d<\/p>\nCMS administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure in the announcement.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

According to CMS data, nursing homes with vaccination rates of 75% or less tend to have higher rates of preventable COVID infection. When it comes to meeting that milestone, however, results are varied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From data.cms.gov on October 21, 2021<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of mid-October, nearly 70% of staff in healthcare settings have been vaccinated nationally, on average. But there are leaders and laggards: While many states have already passed some form of vaccine and\/or regular testing mandate for health care workers, the New York Times reported that in 10 states<\/a>, vaccination rates for nursing home staff are still below 60%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CMS’s COVID vaccination mandates for healthcare facilities alone will apply to more than 17 million workers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The CMS vaccine requirements will apply to staff, contractors, and volunteers at Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities<\/a> across the country. This may include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n