CMS updates guidance on COVID-19 vaccine mandate for HCWs

Editor's Note

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 5 released a memorandum and guidance on complying with its interim final rule mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers (HCWs) in facilities that participate in CMS programs.

The guidance in the memorandum specifically applies to Texas. On January 13, 2022, the US Supreme Court allowed the vaccine mandate rule to take effect nationwide in all states but Texas where a preliminary injunction was in effect because of the state’s challenge to the rule. A federal judge on January 19 dismissed the Texas challenge to the mandate.

States that are not identified in this current April 5 memorandum are expected to continue under the timeframes in the previous December 28, 2021 or January 14, 2022 memoranda.