Health and Fitness : IHCA Statement on Mandatory Nursing Home Staff Vaccination

Statement from IHCA President & CEO Brent Willett Regarding Biden Administration Call for Mandatory Nursing Home Staff Vaccination

Media reports yesterday suggest that the Biden Administration plans to issue a directive calling for the mandatory vaccination of all U.S. nursing home staff. The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) is currently assessing the full impact this will have on Iowa's 431 nursing homes.

Reports suggest the proposed directive would be carried out through the federal Rules of Participation, which governs regulatory and reimbursement policy for each of the nation's over 14,000 nursing homes must follow. These federal rules usurp any state laws and requirements, which means all Iowa nursing homes will be forced to comply if this directive is implemented as reported. Iowa nursing homes currently employ more than 27,000 Iowans.

IHCA will be assessing the impacts this directive could have on the already strained long-term care workforce. Reports suggest that the mandate will only apply to nursing homes and not to other health care settings. If true, such a singling out of nursing homes is counterproductive and will further exacerbate crisis-level workforce shortages in long-term care.

The association will actively educate its members on the impacts and assist them with complying with any requirements of the directive.

About the Iowa Health Care Association
The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) and its divisions, Iowa Center for Assisted Living (ICAL) and Iowa Center for Home Care (ICHC) represent 790 Iowa organizations that provide long-term care to Iowans through nursing facilities, assisted living, residential care, senior living communities and home health agencies.