CMS pauses COVID-19 vaccination mandate implementation

In line with recent court rulings, on Dec. 2 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) paused enforcement of its rule mandating employees in certified Medicare and Medicaid facilities be vaccinated against COVID-19. The agency has appealed the courts’ injunctions and said it “remains confident in its authority to protect the health and safety of patients in facilities certified by the Medicare and Medicaid programs.” As of Wednesday, 15 health systems had suspended their vaccination mandates. The American Hospital Association posted an update this week on the legal challenges to the CMS vaccination mandate rule. (CMS memorandum, 12/2/21)