STATE NEWS

How/When will KDADS Enforce New Vaccination Requirement from CMS?
This will be on the agenda for discussion at tomorrow’s weekly meeting LeadingAge Kansas and other associations have with KDADS.

VACCINE NEWS

CMS releases updated memo on vaccine mandate enforcement – includes Kansas
CMS released an updated all provider memo on the IFR for the 25 states (including Kansas) that were previously under injunction prior to last week’s Supreme Court decision. The 24 states listed in the memo have until Monday, February 14th to comply with the 30-day requirements in the memo and until Tuesday, March 15th for the 60-day requirements. The long-term care (nursing home) guidance is here. The home health guidance is here and the hospice guidance is here.

DOL Statement After Supreme Court Stays Vaccination and Testing OSHA Large Employer ETS (100+ Employees)
The US Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh issued a statement after the Supreme Court decision staying the enforcement of the OSHA Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). Walsh noted that “OSHA will do everything in its existing authority to hold businesses accountable for protecting workers, including under the COVID-19 National Emphasis Program and General Duty Clause.” OSHA will not be able to enforce the ETS while the legal proceedings make their way through the courts. Because the case will take time to make it through the judicial process and the OSHA ETS only lasts six months, it will likely not be enforced in its current form as it will expire before it makes its way back to the Supreme Court.

The Vaccination and Testing ETS applied to all employers with 100 more employees and required businesses to implement a vaccine mandate or weekly testing option. OSHA will not be able to enforce the ETS while the legal proceedings make their way through the courts. Because the case will take time to make it through the judicial process and the OSHA ETS only lasts six months, it will likely not be enforced in its current form as it will expire before it makes its way back to the Supreme Court.

LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS

Join Us this Friday for our Weekly Webinar
Make sure you listen in this Friday for more up-to-date information and a rundown of the second week of the 2022 Legislative Session. Weekly Webinars are on Fridays at 10 AM. Register for 2022 here if you haven’t already.

LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS

American Hospital Association Special Bulletin on Vaccination Prior to Hospital Discharge
One of the issues LeadingAge National recently shared with White House COVID team staff was that congregate LTC settings face real challenges when they are asked to admit unvaccinated people from hospitals. The staff let us know this week that they are also working with the American Hospital Association and AHA issued thisUpdated COVID Prevention, Treatment Information for Clinicians bulletin to its member hospitals, urging them to work with their states “to ensure they have an adequate supply of vaccines on hand to enable [patients being discharged to nursing homes or other congregate care settings] to receive their first or second dose of vaccine or booster shot” prior to discharge.

Save the Date – February 2nd, Noon – LeadingAge HRSA Provider Relief Webinar
“Preparing to Report on Nursing Home Infection Control Provider Relief” will feature presenters from the Health Resources and Services Administration PRF Bureau. It will highlight what LeadingAge nursing home members need to know to comply with the reporting requirement. Registration details available soon.

RESOURCES

• Media Training in the Era of COVID-19 | January 20, 2022, 11 AM – Noon Central 12:00 PM  (CST) This Society of Critical Care Medicine webcast will provide strategies and techniques to increase the confidence of clinicians participating in media communications. Register Here
• Visit COCA Calls/Webinars for recordings of recent calls on Updates to CDC’s COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines in Healthcare and Non-healthcare Settings.
• Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy on January 26th at 11 AM. The American Hospital Association in partnership with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, hospital leaders, clinicians and experts from the CDC will discuss how health care professionals can work with their patients and communities to build trust in the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant people. Register Here

THANK YOU TO OUR BRONZE PARTNER