CMS is providing answers to some of the top questions from providers after the release of the CMS Omnibus Staff Vaccination Rule on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021.
Certified Medicare and Medicaid providers must establish a policy ensuring all eligible staff have received the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine prior to providing any care, treatment or other services by December 5, according to the interim final rule release last week. All eligible staff members must have received the necessary shots to be fully vaccinated — either two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson — by January 4.
There is an exception for employees working 100% remotely with no directly contact with patients or other staff.
Among the questions in the FAQ: What about new staff?
According to the FAQ (p. 6), staff at all health care facilities included within the regulation must have received, at a minimum, the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine by the regulatory deadline, or prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services for the facility and/or its patients.
CMS is hosting a stakeholder call on at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.