CMS Posts Vaccine Order Guidance for Surveyors

On December 28, 2021, CMS posted a memorandum to State Survey Agency Directors, providing guidance and survey procedures for assessing and maintaining compliance with the vaccine mandate regulatory requirements. The memo can be read at:

Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination (QSO-22-07-ALL)

Enforcement remedies for home health and hospice agencies include civil monetary penalties, payment denials and – as a final measure- termination of participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

State, Federal, Accreditation, and CMS-contracted surveyors will begin surveying for compliance as part of initial certification, recertification, reaccreditation, and complaint surveys beginning on January 27, 2022 (30 days after issuance of the memo). Facilities failing to maintain compliance with the 100% standard may be subject to enforcement action within 90 days of the memo. 

The memo includes attachments for provider-specific expectations and guidance. Links to those for hospice and home health follow: