Colorado Health Facilities InteractionFrom CDPHE [Late last month] the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced that it, “does not intend to seek another set of emergency rules, nor does it intend to seek to make the current Chapter 2 regulations permanent. As such, the Chapter 2 COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements shall expire July 14, 2022.” The Board of Health indicated that they have decided to change the policy due to the following: First, the vaccination rate, as well as medical and religious exemption numbers, have remained steady for the past 3+ months. “Second, HB22-1401 was signed into law by Governor Polis on May 18, 2022. While the bulk of this bill pertains to licensed Hospitals, there is language directing the Department to enact requirements for all licensed facilities and agencies related to infection prevention and control. While the Department has not yet determined what these requirements will be, the statute requires that they include provisions related to testing, vaccination, and treatment for COVID-19 in accordance with applicable recommendations and guidance. While the specifics will be worked out with stakeholders in the future, the Department envisions COVID-19 vaccination will be part of this conversation. “Third, while the Department intends to let its state licensure vaccination requirement expire in July, it is important to note that the federal requirement for staff to be vaccinated or obtain a valid medical or religious exemption, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will still apply to any licensed facility that is certified by CMS to receive federal reimbursement. Approximately one-third of all licensed facilities are certified by CMS, and therefore their staff will still be subject to a vaccination requirement. “Key takeaways for licensed facilities and agencies:
|