CMS Shifts From Mandate To Quality Scores To Encourage COVID Shots

CMS on Wednesday (May 31) officially withdrew controversial regulations that required health care workers be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition for facilities to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, and says it will now use quality reporting and value-based incentives to encourage facilities to keep workers and residents “up to date” on COVID-19 vaccines. The final rule also makes permanent policies requiring long-term care providers to educate and provide COVID-19 vaccines to staff and residents and removes expired COVID-19...