COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Final Rule

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized staff education requirements while ending the COVID-19 staff vaccination requirements for long-term care facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. These provisions were included in the “COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) Residents, Clients, and Staff” IFC, published May 13, 2021. The ICF-IID to provide education about and to offer COVID-19 vaccines to residents, clients, and staff will continue and are an important mitigation tool against COVID-19 as the health-care system shifts away from the PHE phase of the pandemic. See the final rule.