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From our ASCS Leaders:
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Dear Texas ASCA Members,
On January 19, the judge overseeing the Texas lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccination mandate granted the state’s request to dismiss the lawsuit in light of the US Supreme Court’s January 13 opinion. On January 20, CMS issued guidance for the state, including compliance deadlines. Compliance deadlines have now been established for all 50 states, Washington, DC, and US territories. More information on the requirements and deadlines is below.
CMS guidance prescribes a two-phase implementation process, with enforcement actions against facilities not in compliance allowed to begin on a specified date following Phase 2 implementation:
Phase 1:
Policies and procedures are developed and implemented for ensuring all facility staff, regardless of clinical responsibility or patient or resident contact, are vaccinated for COVID-19.
100 percent of staff have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or have a pending request for or have been granted a qualifying exemption, or identified as having a temporary delay as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Phase 2: 100 percent of staff have received the necessary doses to complete the vaccine series (i.e., one dose of a single-dose vaccine or all doses of a multiple-dose vaccine series) or have been granted a qualifying exemption or identified as having a temporary delay as recommended by the CDC.
Under the January 20 guidance, facilities located in Texas must meet the following deadlines:
Phase 1: February 21, 2022
Phase 2: March 21, 2022
Enforcement: April 20, 2022
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Stephen Abresch. |
