DDRS Update: Vaccine Mandate Clarification for Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with I/DD or Supervised Group Living Settings

On Nov. 5, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published an interim final rule which established requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccine immunizations of staff who work in Medicaid certified facilities, including intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual\developmental disabilities or supervised group living settings. CMS issued additional guidance on this rule on Jan. 14, 2022. ​

This rule requires that all staff who provide any care, treatment or other services for the ICF\ID or SGL setting and/or its clients must be fully vaccinated. Examples of staff that must comply with the vaccination requirement include but are not limited to:

• Facility employees;
• Licensed practitioners;
• Students, trainees and volunteers; and
• Individuals who provide, care, treatment or other services for the facility and/or its clients, under contract or by other arrangement within the ICF\ID or SGL.

​This requirement does not apply to:

• personal visitors to the ICF\ID or SGL setting such as family members or friends;
• providers practicing fully remote telehealth for an ICF\ID or SGL setting and therefore do not have direct contact with staff or clients; or
• Home-and Community-Based Services* unless otherwise required to meet the Medicare conditions of participation

Family and visitors, including case managers, who visit an individual residing in the ICF\ID or SGL are not required to comply with the vaccination requirement.  However, ICF\ID or SGL settings may require visitors to wear personal protective equipment in order to enter the facility.

*If a HCBS provider also provides services within the ICF\ID or SGL setting, the HCBS provider is subject to the CMS vaccine mandate.

Additional information can be found in the FAQ on COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule from CMS. 
The DDRS is a program of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration. If you have questions about DDRS programs and services, visit us online at www.DDRS.In.gov.