[MCOH-EH] [EXTERNAL] Testing for COVID vaccine exempt employees

[Sally Foster-Chang]

Marianne Cloeren has just declared her candidacy for ACOEM VP. I was asked
to spread the word. She has a plethora of experience in all areas of OH and
is Incredibly hard working. Go Marianne!

On Wed, Sep 29, 2021 at 1:56 PM Swift, Melanie D., M.D., M.P.H. via MCOH-EH
<mcoh-eh at mylist.net> wrote:

> We are awaiting the CMS regulations to determine testing requirements and
> frequency, which may drive some of the logistic decisions.
>
>
>
> Current CMS regulations for LTC facilities require routine testing of
> unvaccinated staff at intervals determined by local disease levels, require
> that facilities offer or facilitate vaccination, provide education
> regarding vaccination, and submit a weekly report of vaccination rates and
> other metrics, but do not require that employees take vaccination.
>
>
>
> In August CMS announced they would be revising this to reflect mandating
> vaccination, and there is speculation that whatever that requirement is
> would be expanded to all healthcare facilities that receive CMS funding,
> but we do not yet know whether routine testing will be required for
> unvaccinated staff. Probably it will be, but the changing frequency based
> on local disease levels can be quite challenging for multisite healthcare
> systems to manage, so hopefully it will be something simpler. Based on
> disease activity, the current LTC testing can be as frequent as twice a
> week.
>
>
>
> Even if not required by CMS regs, the anticipated OSHA ETS for employers
> with over 100 employees would likely apply, and we do know that would
> require weekly testing of unvaccinated staff. So unless healthcare is
> carved out of that ETS we expect at least weekly testing.
>
>
>
> CMS is reportedly going to publish an interim rule within the next 1 – 2
> weeks, so we should know more soon.
>
>
>
>
>
> Melanie
>
>
>
> *Melanie Swift, MD, MPH*
>
> (she/her)
> Practice Chair, Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace
> Medicine
>
> Medical Director, Mayo Clinic Physician Health Center
> <https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/preventive-occupational-aerospace-medicine/physician-health-center/referrals>
>
> Associate Medical Director, Occupational Health Service
>
> Co-Chair, COVID Vaccine Allocation and Delivery
>
> _______________________________
> *Mayo Clinic*
> 200 First Street SW
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+First+Street+SW+%0D%0ARochester,+MN+55905?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Rochester, MN 55905
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+First+Street+SW+%0D%0ARochester,+MN+55905?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
>
>
> *From:* MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net> *On Behalf Of *Abhijay
> Karandikar via MCOH-EH
> *Sent:* Friday, September 17, 2021 4:30 PM
> *To:* mcoh-eh at mylist.net
> *Cc:* Abhijay Karandikar <dr_abhik at yahoo.com>
> *Subject:* [EXTERNAL] [MCOH-EH] Testing for COVID vaccine exempt employees
>
>
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> Could you please take some time to answer these questions regarding
> unvaccinated employees who you grant exemptions from receipt of the
> COVID-19 vaccine(s), either medical or religious:
>
>
>
> 1. Which PCR test platform are you using: Panther, LIAT, ID Now, etc.?
>
>
>
> 2. At what frequency will you test exempt employees: Once a week, twice
> weekly, other?
>
>
>
> 3. Who is performing the test: the employees themselves, Employee Health,
> Urgent Care, other?
>
>
>
> 4. If the weekly tests are performed outside EH, how would employees send
> the swabs to the lab?
>
>
>
> 5. Lastly, do you require remote exempt employees to test at the same
> frequency or only if they are anticipated on campus? If they are self
> testing at home, how do you deal with "chain of custody" issues?
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Abhijay
>
>
>
> *Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, FACOEM*
>
> Section Chief, Occupational Medicine & Employee Health
> Medical Director, Occupational Claims
> West Reading, PA 19611
>
>
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