President Biden announced the implementation of a six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy using the science-based approach used to combat previous variants of COVID-19. The six prong plan includes the following:
1. Vaccinating the Unvaccinated: The plan will reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans by using regulatory powers and other actions to substantially increase the number of Americans covered by vaccination requirements, which include:
- Requiring all employers with 100+ employees to ensure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly. The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing a rule requiring all these employers to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated, or workers who remain unvaccinated must produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work.
- Requiring vaccinations for all federal workers and for millions of contractors that do business with the federal government. An Executive Order will require all federal executive branch workers to be vaccinated and will be extended to employees of contractors that do business with the federal government.
- Requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for over 17 million healthcare workers at Medicare and Medicaid participating hospitals and other healthcare settings. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most healthcare settings that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement. This will include clinical staff; individuals providing services under arrangements; volunteers; and staff not involved in direct patient, resident, or client care.
- Calling on large entertainment venues to require proof of vaccination or testing for entry.
- Requiring employers to provide time off to get vaccinated. Employers with more than 100 employees must provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated or to recover from post-vaccination affects.
2. Further Protecting the Vaccinated: In August 2021, the nation’s top health officials released an initial plan for booster shots aimed at staying ahead of the virus. Implementation depends on authorization of boosters by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommendations by the CDC’s independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The Administration is prepared to offer booster shots, starting the week of September 20th. The plan includes:
- Providing easy access to booster shots for all eligible Americans.
- Ensuring Americans Know Where to Get a Booster. Individuals will be able to find a vaccination site at Vaccines.gov, including what vaccines are available at each site and, for many sites, what appointments are open. A toll-free number, 1-800-232-0233, will also be available in over 150 languages. Americans who have already utilized the text code 438829 or WhatsApp to get vaccine information will automatically receive a text with information on boosters, if and when recommended.
3. Keeping Schools Safely Open: Presently the FDA is undergoing a process to evaluate a vaccine for children under the age of 12.
4. Increasing Testing & Requiring Masking: Testing can be a key tool to identify infected individuals and prevent the spread to others. Masking can help slow and contain the spread of COVID-19. New requirements include:
- Mobilizing industry to expand easy to use testing production. The plan will mobilize industry to accelerate the production of rapid COVID-19 tests, including at home tests, and continue to ensure manufacturers prioritize creating these products.
- Making at Home Tests More Affordable. Top retailers that sell at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests—Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger—and will sell those tests at-cost for the next three months. Medicaid will be required to cover at home tests for free for beneficiaries.
- Sending Free Rapid, At Home Tests to Food Banks and Community Health Centers.
- Expanding free, pharmacy testing.
- Continuing to require masking for interstate travel and double fines. Mask wearing is mandatory in airports and on certain modes of public transportation, including on many airplanes, trains, maritime vessels, and intercity bus services. The requirements have been extended through January 18, 2022, and will double fines for those not in compliance.
- Continue to require masking on federal property.
5. Protecting Our Economic Recovery.
- New support for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Small Business Administration (SBA) will increase the maximum amount of funding a small business can borrow through this program from $500,000 to $2 million for use to hire and retain employees, purchase inventory and equipment, and pay off high-interest debt. SBA will collaborate closely with the SBA Inspector General to monitor the program.
- Streamlining the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Process. The plan will make it easier for more than 3.5 million PPP borrowers with loans of $150,000 or less to get their loans wiped clean.
- Launching the Community Navigator Program to connect small businesses to health they need. The SBA will complete the competitive review process to select Community Navigators and put them to work in underserved communities this Fall.
6. Improving Care for those with COVID-19. Response teams will be sent to states that request them and take additional actions to accelerate this work. These actions include:
- Increasing support for COVID-19 burdened hospitals. The Department of Defense (DOD) will double the number of DOD teams of clinicians deployed to support hospitals battling a surge in COVID-19 cases through FEMA.
- Getting life-saving monoclonal antibody treatment to those who need it. Approximately 100,000 doses of monoclonal antibodies were shipped per week in July and August. This will increase by 50% in September. These reduce the risk of hospitalization by up to 70% for unvaccinated people at risk of developing severe disease.
- Expanding the pool of healthcare professionals providing treatment by deploying Federal Monoclonal Antibody Strike Teams. Monoclonal antibody strike teams will deploy clinical personnel through HHS, FEMA, and DOD to help hospitals and health systems deliver this key treatment option and will allow more providers, including pharmacists, to administer this treatment.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
As we all continue to battle against COVID-19 and its variants, it is essential that each facility has the most up to date information in their Infection Control Plan. Masking and vaccinations are critical strategies that can be taken to help decrease the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. As more is learned about COVID-19 and its variants, healthcare personnel must stay up-to-date on the important changes and train all staff on the available information.
Discussion Points
- Review your Infection Control Plan and your policy and procedure on COVID-19 vaccination. Ensure that both include the most up-to-date information from the CDC. Develop a process for ensuring that all required education and vaccination data is accurately recorded and reported timely per CMS requirements.
- Train all staff on your Infection Control Plan and your COVID-19 policies for vaccination and prevention of the spread of the virus. Provide education to residents, resident representatives, and staff prior to offering the COVID-19 vaccine. Train appropriate staff on the need to record and report vaccination status for residents and staff per CMS guidelines. Place training documentation in each employee’s education file.
- Periodically audit to ensure that all staff follow your Infection Control Plan, and that staff are aware of the benefits and risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccination or declination. Audit vaccine education records, consent completion, and administration rates, and provide additional education where needed. Monitor to ensure that vaccination reporting occurs each week as required.
