Covid-19 vaccine mandate for health-care workers ended in mid-June, but some major Kentucky hospitals still have such policies
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
About a month ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services withdrew its requirement that health-care workers get a Covid-19 vaccination, and while the final rule won’t be official until on or about Aug. 5, CMS has said it does not intend to enforce staff vaccination requirements before that date.
Kentucky Health News checked with a few of the larger hospital systems in Kentucky to see if they had changed their policy and found that a few of them had, but others are still considering it.
“While Covid-19 vaccination is no longer a requirement for employees, volunteers, vendors and contractors, we do still recommend it to reduce the risk and protect each other and our patients,” she told the CJ. “The vaccine is also recommended for people who are at risk of medical complications due to the virus.
Appalachian Regional Healthcare, which has 14 hospitals in Kentucky and West VIrginia, said it has changed its policy.
“As of July 3, the Appalachian Regional Healthcare system is no longer mandating that employees at any of our locations in eastern Kentucky or southern West Virginia be vaccinated for Covid-19. While not mandated, the vaccine is still available for all employees who want to receive it,” Melissa Cornett, assistant vice president of corporate communications for ARH, said in an email.
Rebecca Brown, associate vice president of marketing for Baptist Health, said in an email, “Baptist Health still has its Covid-19 vaccination requirement in place. We are aware of the federal changes. Our clinicians are still reviewing and working through the reporting requirements for CMS. As we address those requirements, we will make a determination on any policy changes.”