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LTC Facilities are required to Offer COVID-19 Vaccine to Staff and Residents.

As a reminder, all long-term care facilities are required to educate and offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents and staff.   This was included in QSO-21-19-ALL and made permanent through the COVID-19 Vaccination Final Rule, effective on August 5, 2023. Facilities must educate, offer, and document the consent and/or declination of COVID-19 vaccines for both residents and staff.

Offering means, when the vaccine is not accessible within the facility, the facility should furnish details regarding external vaccination options (such as the health department or local retail pharmacy) for individuals. CMS anticipates that the facility will be ready to provide proof of the steps taken to ensure vaccine accessibility for both staff and residents upon request. 
Providers are encouraged to keep working with their LTC pharmacies to access and make available vaccinations and/or find opportunities for offsite vaccination.

For more vaccine information and guidance please review the AHCA vaccine toolkit.
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org