Staff Contact: Jane Drummond or Sarah Willson
MHA prepared a guidance document to assist hospitals in developing policies and procedures for implementing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Omnibus COVID-19 Healthcare Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule. The mandate requires all hospital staff, with limited exceptions for individuals who exclusively work offsite or are eligible for medical and religious exemptions, to begin the process for vaccination against COVID-19 by Sunday, Dec. 5.
The vaccination requirements are incorporated into CMS’ Conditions of Participation for hospitals and critical access hospitals. Any policies implementing the rule must harmonize with hospitals’ existing COVID-19, infection control and human resource policies and will be individualized to the hospital’s own operations. MHA’s guidance is intended to provide hospitals with the basic substantive requirements of the rule and narrative guidance for crafting hospital policy and procedure. MHA is hosting a member virtual event on the CMS vaccination rule at noon on Friday, Nov. 19. Registration is required.