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CMS Issues Rule on COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities

For CEOs, COOs, compliance officers, legal counsel, post-acute care executives, quality & patient safety staff

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has issued an interim final rule requiring long-term care facilities to offer the COVID-19 vaccine, when available, to residents and staff and educate them on the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine.  

The rule also requires long-term care facilities to report weekly COVID-19 vaccination and treatment data for residents and staff to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network by June 13. The education and vaccination requirements also apply to intermediate care facilities serving clients with intellectual disabilities.  

CMS is seeking comments on whether to extend the requirements to other congregate living settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and assisted living facilities.  

Additional information on vaccination requirements is available in a CMS memorandum to state survey agencies.