Attn: Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID)
CMS Issues Memo: QSO-21-21-ICF-IID – Interim Final rule – COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Requirements for Clients and Staff in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID)
On August 23, 2021, CMS issued Interim Final Rule - COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Requirements for Clients and Staff in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID) | CMS. CMS added new requirements at 42 CFR 483.460(a)(4) directing ICF/IIDs to develop policies and procedures to educate clients, their representatives, and staff, on the benefits and risks, and potential side effects, of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The ICF/IID must offer the vaccine unless it is medically contraindicated or the client or staff member has already been immunized. Additionally, the facility must maintain appropriate documentation to reflect the provision of the required COVID-19 vaccine education and offering, and whether the client and staff member received the vaccine or did not receive it due to medical contraindications or refusal.
CMS continues to encourage ICF/IIDs to voluntarily report COVID-19 incidence and vaccination status of clients and staff, each dose of vaccine received, COVID-19 vaccination adverse events, and therapeutics administered to clients to treat COVID-19 on the CDC NHSN website. This reporting will help public health agencies and stakeholders monitor the percentage of clients and staff who are vaccinated, and target resources accordingly, to improve vaccination rates.
Noncompliance related to the new requirements for educating and offering COVID-19 vaccination to clients and staff are cited at W-tags 500-507.
Additional information is provided regarding vaccination education, offering the vaccine, administration of the vaccine, adverse event reporting, documentation, links to CDC resources, and updates to the survey process.
Questions
If you have questions about this information, please contact your Division of Quality Assurance, Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care Regional Office.
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