Special Edition: Healthcare Vaccine Mandate
January 14, 2022
On January 7th, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments about the OSHA ETS Vaccine and Testing Mandate for Large Employers with 100+ employees as well as the vaccine mandate for certain Healthcare workers and facilities. After several days of deliberation, the Supreme Court ruled on January 13th, that the mandate for large employers was too broad, blocking the OSHA ETS from activation—with one exception: the vaccine requirement for certain health care workers in facilities participating in Medicare or Medicaid will take effect.
As impacted healthcare employers scramble to respond to the January 13th ruling, there are crucial steps business leaders can take to prepare for implementing a Vaccine and Testing tracking solution.
Steps for Healthcare Facilities can take now
- Review your employee handbook and employment contracts to identify changes needed regarding your organization’s COVID-19 vaccine policy
- Enact policies to ensure all required employees are treated equitably
- Establish specific timelines and goals for compliance across your organization
- Consult with legal counsel to ensure procedures and implementation are executed properly and communicated effectively
- Talk with your current technology providers to assess solutions for collecting proof of vaccination, validation processes, confidentiality, etc.
- Determine if the solution is adaptable to changing requirements such as booster shots, reporting needs, etc.?
If your organization finds itself in need of a vaccine-or-testing tracking strategy, BTR can help! Feel free to reach out to us at BTRProjects@bentechre.com to ask questions or to schedule a consultation.
Please note: This publication includes a high-level overview of the federal mandate. The requirements may differ based on specific state laws and may have special application to employers in varying industries. BTR is in no way providing medical advice or guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine or any vaccine or medical diagnosis. If you have questions about whether or not a vaccine is right for you, please consult your physician or go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines for more information. Additionally, BTR is not positioned to provide legal advice in any manner, so please consult your ERISA or legal counsel before moving forward with vaccine tracking.
About the Author
Jannette Kresser coordinates BTR’s solution provider relationships and supports operational efficiencies for the Consulting Division. She has over 20 years of experience in project management, contract administration, process improvements, and new technology implementations