The genius of the healthcare worker vaccine requirement

[boston bean]

Any entity receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds is required to have their staff fully vaxed.

Can anyone name a such entity that doesn’t take Medicare or Medicaid?

[mcar]

1. This!

I worked in healthcare administration for 10 years. Healthcare in this country doesn't exist without Medicare or Medicaid.

[spooky3]

2. Some doctors' offices don't. Nt

[Backseat Driver]

5. Cosmetic plastic surgeons

few private insurers cover cosmetic procedures without medical necessity; many have cash-only fee schedules; likewise, those docs' anesthetists, seniors would need to be super-healthy for surgical recommendation.

[mucifer]

8. The very wealthy can buy their way out of just about ANYTHING

[uppityperson]

3. Some facilities take only private party. In home care.

[Volaris]

4. What's the final date by which this has to happen or peeps start getting fired?

Oh, and GOOD...by a large margin, this means nursing homes nationwide.

Means there will probably be a glut of job openings in the next 60 days; means vaxxed labor supply can demand an increase in wages (and likley get it).

[wnylib]

14. Health care workers who quit over this

will have a hard time getting another job. They will have to find an employer who does not take medicaid or medicare, or else give up theur education and training to work in a different field.

[Hekate]

6. I know -- it's brilliant

Go, Joe!

[wnylib]

17. I think it's the only way he can

establish a vax mandate legally. As part of the federal government, he is on good ground in setting a mandate for federal fund recipients. But his authority for vax mandates beyond that is doubtful.

[Mr.Bill]

7. Some private hospitals don't take Medicare.

Others would be Dentists and optometric facilities, since Medicare doesn't cover those things.

But the OP makes a good point about most major health care facilities. And most of them couldn't keep the lights burning without Medicare, not to mention doctor's offices.

[RicROC]

11. Medicare does not cover eye glasses in an Optometrist's office

but they do cover professional fees in an eye exam when there is a medical diagnosis

[Mr.Bill]

15. You are correct.

They will cover exams in an opthamologist office. Also eye surgery such as cataracts.

[wnylib]

18. They also cover one pair of glasses after

cataract surgery.

I don't know about other states, but in NY, Medicaid covers eye exams and glasses. Also covers dental.

[Mr.Bill]

19. Yes, my wife just recently got her free pair

after cataract surgery. But with all the extras, like progressive lenses, variable tinted lenses and some decent frames those free glasses cost $285. Would have been the same with most other insurance, though.

[wnylib]

21. True. Medicare only covers the bare minimum.

[Liberty Belle]

9. There is a huge loophole - unvaxxed visiting medical professionals who come to senior facilities.

For instance, Mom's senior care facility allows unvaxxed paid sitter services for folks who are high fall risk such as a patient with dementia who has fallen many times.

There are unvaxxed physical therapists, hospice nurses, etc; not sure if any of these will be covered by the new rule but up until now, many of these folks were unvaxxed including a hospice nurse who brought COVID into the facility, though all staff IS vaccinated and visitors must be vaxxed or visit outside and show recent negative COVID test. Double standard for sure.

[dflprincess]

13. I would guess, if the unvaxxed therapist or nurse's employer is reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid

the rule would apply. At lease I hope it would.

My niece works as a home hospice aid (sometimes the home she visits is a care facility) and her employer is requiring vaccination for both Covid & influenza. Though, it is one of the larger healthcare groups in the are & made these mandatory before the new rules.

[Irish_Dem]

22. Medicare pays for medically necessary physical therapy.

So most PT clinics and workers who do home visits would have received federal funds.

[Hortensis]

23. Our son's business takes him to various GA senior facilities, and

he's required to be vaccinated. At least in February he was (and was), but this is GA...

[Ms. Toad]

10. Not really genius - just one of the unquestionably constitutional ways for implementing a mandate

Tie it to the receipt of federal money. You want the money? - you have to comply.

[dflprincess]

12. A lot of dentists don't take Medicaid

In many areas what Medicaid remburses dentists barely cover their costs.

[2naSalit]

16. Several dentists in my area.

[Indykatie]

20. The Medicare/Medicaid Rule Will Pull In the Vast Majority of Healthcare Providers

Let's not let allow the perfect be the enemy of the good as they say. NO rule would capture 100% of everyone but al least all traditional hospital systems and the vast majority of professional medical providers will be covered. This is a BFD and will have a major impact on controlling COVID.