MHA Today | November 10, 2021

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.

Staff Contact: Jane Drummond

Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a challenge to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Interim Final Rule requiring health care workers, including hospital employees, to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Ten other states joined the suit, which was filed in federal court in Missouri.

The lawsuit claims CMS failed to account for potentially catastrophic staffing consequences of imposing widespread vaccination mandates on health care staff and contractors, intrudes on individual state’s police powers, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. In support of the latter, the suit claims the agency lacks statutory authority to impose a national vaccination mandate and that the rule is arbitrary and capricious.

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Central Office Medical Review Unit is offering training to review its new Level of Care process that went into effect Oct. 31. Hospitals are affected by these changes, primarily due to the submission of LOC and preadmission forms through an electronic format. A previous training was recorded and can be accessed on the department’s website. A follow-up Webex training will be offered at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19, for the LOC Transformation. Access the training using the details below.

• • Join by Webex
  • Join by meeting number:
    • Meeting number (access code): 2466 296 8040
    • Meeting password: A2CaeX3FZP9
  • Join by phone:
    • 1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
    • +1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)

Staff Contact: Stephen Njenga

The American Academy of Pediatrics is offering funding to support pediatricians and fellowship trainees in the initial planning and/or pilot stage of implementing innovative, community-based projects to increase children’s access to optimal health and well-being, and to address unmet child health needs. Links to application instructions and the online application system are available on the program website. The application deadline is Jan. 24, 2022.

Staff Contact: Stephen Njenga

The National Rural Health Association published a policy brief discussing the impact of the increasing proportion of the population turning 65 years old on rural communities. It offers policy recommendations for addressing barriers that rural older adults face, including accessing health care and social services.