A national vaccination mandate directed at employers with more than 100 employees became effective 1/10/2022. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has expedited oral arguments regarding judicial stays facing the mandate, the Court’s failure to stay the mandate to date means that covered employers should be prepared to comply at this time. Under the mandate, employers with more than 100 employees must:

• Have a process in place to ensure employees are vaccinated and tracks employees’ vaccination status;
• Track employee infections;
• Bar infectious workers from the workplace; and
• Ensure any unvaccinated workers wear a mask while indoors.

Additionally, beginning February 9, 2022, any unvaccinated workers must take weekly COVID-19 tests.

While the mandate covers approximately 84 million workers, it does not apply to businesses whose employees don’t report to a central workplace, or those whose employees work at home or outdoors.

The mandate is issued as an emergency temporary standard, meaning it can stay in place for six months.

Read more, here: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/exreq/pages/details.aspx?erid=1753

Additionally, in an effort to help Americans “live their lives” (including visiting relatives and attending school), another federal mandate beginning on Saturday, January 15, 2022, requires private insurance companies to cover the cost of up to eight at-home COVID tests per month for each covered individual. Covered individuals can find out from their insurer if it provides direct coverage or whether they will need to submit a claim for reimbursement. The mandate also incentivizes insurers to cover these costs up front and ensures individuals do not need a prescription from their health care provider to access tests for free.

Under the plan, consumers with private insurance will be able to obtain tests without any cost-sharing such as deductibles, co-insurance or copayments.

The new policy does not apply to Medicare and Medicaid because these programs already cover the cost of at-home COVID tests authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.

Read more, here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/01/10/biden-harris-administration-requires-insurance-companies-group-health-plans-to-cover-cost-at-home-covid-19-tests-increasing-access-free-tests.html

[View source.]