Providers are expecting to receive intricacies of staff, and possibly surveyor, vaccine mandates for COVID-19 inoculations in the week ahead. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services policy has set a deadline for healthcare workers to have at least a first shot by Monday (Dec. 6).
Although CMS has maintained that surveyors shall not be put under any mandate terms, long-term care operators are hopeful that more helpful language will be forthcoming about these visitors, who may enter multiple facilities in a day or week.
On Tuesday, a CMS spokesman said sub-regulatory guidance can be expected, just as with other rules from the agency. He said an announcement could come within “days” or as long as a week or two. It is not known what effect various legal challenges to the mandates could have. More than 20 states have sued to stop them.
The administration has set Tuesday, Jan. 4, as a deadline for staff members to be fully vaccinated. Failing that, intermediate disciplinary action could take place, officials have warned.
