The Covid vaccination mandate for health care workers will no longer be in effect in the coming months, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said via the draft of a final rule that was issued late Wednesday.
However, CMS’ final rule lifting the mandate stressed that long-term care facilities will have to educate staff on Covid protocols as well as offer vaccinations to residents, clients, and staff.
Previously, the federal government said that the vaccine mandate would be phased out.
“This final rule removes expired language addressing staff and patient COVID-19 testing requirements for LTC Facilities issued in the interim final rule with comment,” CMS said of its previously published rulings.
The federal agency also shared details on quality measures related to Covid vaccinations, which have been proposed for adoption in multiple CMS quality reporting and payment programs.
CMS said that the document detailing the final rule on the Covid vaccine mandate is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on June 5 and will be available online. The regulations in the final rule will go into effect 60 days after this publication.
CMS’ move follows the federal government’s announcement in the beginning of May to end Covid vaccine requirements for health care employees on May 11 – the end of the public health emergency.
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