A recent pause in the CMS vaccine mandate has given healthcare facilities across the country time to make sure employees understand their options.
Medical Center Hospital CEO and President Russell Tippin is keeping a close eye on the challenges to the mandate.
“The recent pause in the CMS vaccine mandate gives more opportunities and time for healthcare facilities, including ours, to educate staff on their options, whether it’s by vaccination or through the exemption waivers,” Tippin said. “We continue to be cautious of the situation, knowing that this pause in the mandate could be overturned just as quick as it was implemented. We are impressed with our staff, leaders and board of directors for quickly following the protocols of the mandate guidelines and for always being flexible as this mandate goes through litigation.”
Indeed the Department of Health and Human Services has filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
The legal maneuvers follow President Joe Biden’s order that all healthcare workers in facilities that accepted Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, 2022. Since that time MCH has accepted waiver requests from employees. The waivers must go through a committee to be approved.
As of Tuesday, MCH reports 1,770 vaccinated (fully vaccinated and/or at least one dose), which is about 89% of staff. With 168 waivers granted. About 60 employees are unvaccinated and haven’t filed waiver.
MCH employs roughly 2,000 people. Last week MCH reported that at ProCare (clinic providers, hospitalists, intensivists, anesthesia, etc) there are about 300 employees and that 99 percent are vaccinated.
