Blog Logo
Blog Logo

Albert S. Lee

Shareholder

Co-Chair, Labor & Employment Group

Co-Chair, Healthcare and Long-Term Care Group

Member, Tucker Arensberg Board of Directors

Contact information

BOOKMARK SHARE
View All News & Insights
BACK TO Albert S.’S PROFILE

Update on Vaccine Mandates

On December 15, 2021, a federal appeals court in New Orleans lifted a nationwide stay of the rule (issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on November 4, 2021) that required COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most health care settings that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement.  (The nationwide stay had been in place since November 30, 2021.)  The stay remains in effect for the following 24 states:

  1. Arizona
  2. Alabama
  3. Alaska
  4. Arkansas
  5. Georgia
  6. Kansas
  7. Kentucky
  8. Idaho
  9. Indiana
  10. Iowa
  11. Louisiana
  12. Mississippi
  13. Missouri
  14. Montana
  15. Nebraska
  16. New Hampshire
  17. North Dakota
  18. Ohio
  19. Oklahoma
  20. South Carolina
  21. South Dakota
  22. Utah
  23. West Virginia
  24. Wyoming

A few things to keep in mind.  First, this development only affects the CMS rule.  It does not affect the nationwide stays that remain in effect for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Emergency Temporary Standard (regarding private sector employers with 100 or more employees) or Executive Order 14042 (relating to certain federal contractors and sub-contractors).  Second, what this appeal court’s decision means really isn’t clear.  It technically allows CMS to now enforce the CMS Rule in the 26 states not listed above, but CMS hasn’t yet stated whether it will do so.  Third, on December 16, 2021, the day after the federal appeals court’s ruling, the Biden administration filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court that sought a lifting of the stays nationwide. 

For additional information contact Tucker Arensberg Attorneys:

Albert S. Lee, alee@tuckerlaw.com, (412) 594-5611
Jeremy V. Farrell, jfarrell@tuckerlaw.com, (412) 594-3938
Jim Southworth, jsouthworth@tuckerlaw.com, (412) 594-3925
Tony Judice, ajudice@tuckerlaw.com, (412) 594-3946

December 17, 2021

Serving our clients successfully since 1900

The same attributes that have anchored over a century of success are still our guiding principles today.

Stay up-to-date on the latest News & Insights by subscribing to our alerts

Enter your email address below and be notified when we post new information.