On November 5, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a regulation regarding vaccination requirements for staff of Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities. It aims to protect those fighting this virus on the front lines while also assuring individuals and their families that they will be protected when seeking care.
This emergency regulation is effective as of November 5, 2021. It provides guidance on staff vaccination requirements applicable to Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities that are regulated under the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs), which includes Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities. However, enforcement of this regulation has been halted in response to injunctions issued as a result of the court cases discussed in this video.