On May 1, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Federal employees, Federal contractors and international air travelers would end on May 11, 2023. This date coincided with the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The announcement also indicated that HHS would start the process to end the staff vaccination requirements for CMS-certified healthcare facilities. Although taking a little longer than many anticipated, CMS has finally issued details on the end of its COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
With the release of a pre-publication final rule, CMS has effectively announced the end of the COVID-19 staff vaccination requirements for CMS-certified healthcare facilities. The rule, which is scheduled for publication on June 5, 2023, will terminate the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements that were put in place with the Interim Final Rule issued on November 5, 2021. The final rule will not go into effect until 60 days after publication, however, CMS has indicated that due to the fact that facilities are no longer operating under the PHE it will not be enforcing the staff vaccination requirements during the time from publication until the final rule goes into effect.
CMS-certified healthcare facilities should assess the impact of the CMS final rule on their operations. Additionally, such facilities should continue to be aware of any specific state law requirements relating to COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
YES! PLEASE SIGN ME UP TO RECEIVE EMAIL ALERTS FROM OTHER GUNSTER PRACTICE AREAS.
This publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and legal counsel should be contacted before any action is taken that might be influenced by this publication.
About Gunster
Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 13 offices statewide. Established in 1925, the firm has expanded, diversified and evolved, but always with a singular focus: Florida and its clients’ stake in it. A magnet for business-savvy attorneys who embrace collaboration for the greatest advantage of clients, Gunster’s growth has not been at the expense of personalized service but because of it. The firm serves clients from its offices in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa Bayshore, Tampa Downtown, Vero Beach, and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With more than 260 attorneys and consultants, and over 270 committed professional staff, Gunster is ranked among the National Law Journal’s list of the 500 largest law firms and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Diverse Law Firms by Law360. More information about its practice areas, offices and insider’s view newsletters is available at www.gunster.com.