IMPORTANT!!! COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE REQUIREMENTS
As you all know, the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate was released a few days ago and the Leadership Team has been working through the requirements and how they will affect you as a GSCC employee.
There have been untold numbers of consequences for all of us because of this pandemic some for the good…like us focusing more on what is truly important like family and our relationships and some for the bad…loss of friends and family we love and then some added consequences that are just plain annoying…like wearing masks!!!
I believe that we have all been given free will to make choices that affect our lives…good, bad or indifferent. It is also true that others who have free will can make choices that have consequences for us...consequences that we would never choose for ourselves, like the consequences that we have all dealt with because of COVID-19. We can and do make all sorts of choices that affect us as well as affect others. But something that we often take for granted or forget…is that although we have free will to make choices, we do not get to choose the consequences for those choices nor how far reaching those choices become.
Although we as human beings and Americans have the freedom to decide if we want the COVID-19 Vaccine, the Good Shepherd does not get to decide if our team members, contractors, volunteers or students receive the vaccine. The Good Shepherd does not have the same freedom of choice. The receipt of the vaccine has been mandated by the federal government, enforced by CMS for all entities who care for and receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and we must comply with the law that governs GSCC’s existence. Failure to do so, means that we would have to close the health centers and leave thousands of patients without affordable access to healthcare services. And it means we would abandon our mission to provide care to those who can least afford it.
The GSCC is not alone in this…all healthcare entities who provide care to Medicare and Medicaid patients, are under the mandate.
However, YOU as an individual have free will. YOU get to decide if you want to get one of the COVID-19 vaccines, YOU really do. You can decline it but, if you choose to decline the vaccine, the consequences of that choice are that you also are choosing not to work here. It is not the GSCC who is making that decision, it is a federal law with which the GSCC must comply.
We are going to work through this together as a team because YOU matter…no matter the choice you make following the unfolding of this mandate and its requirements…YOU MATTER and are an incredible asset to this organization.
There are several important things that you need to be aware of regarding the mandate as a GSCC team member. Below are a few of them but not all. Please make sure to read the GSCC COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Procedure documents as well as the timeline for the quickly approaching federal deadlines.
Mandate Components and Consequences to the GSCC:
There are basically two sections to the mandate:
One part that applies to companies with 100 or more employees. This part of the mandate has multiple states involved in legislative action to interrupt its execution. This one DOES NOT currently apply to the GSCC as we have 86 team members.
However, the second part is directed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is applicable to us at the GSCC. This section of the mandate specifically names Federally Qualified Health Centers as well as all organizations that accept Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement including hospitals, nursing homes, private practices, community health centers, community mental health centers, etc.
Essentially, any healthcare services who accept Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement are under the vaccine mandate and required to ensure their employees, contractors, volunteers, and students are appropriately vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
This CMS portion of the mandate (at the time of this post) DOES NOT have legislative action stopping its execution therefore, compliance with the mandate is required by federal law and therefore, the GSCC is required by federal law to comply.
This means that the GSCC has no choice but to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its employees, certain contractors, volunteers (including Board Members) and students.
Failure to comply with the federal mandate would:
Eliminate our ability to care for our Medicare and Medicaid patients and receive reimbursement for services rendered;
Cause the GSCC to lose our FQHC (community health center) status as accepting Medicare and Medicaid are required to comply with FQHC rules;
Cause the GSCC to lose our federal grant funds that support our uncompensated care costs that allow us to offer a Sliding Fee Discount Schedule for our patients who have difficulty affording healthcare service;
And, ultimately cause the GSCC to close its doors and discontinue services to this community thus abandoning our mission to care for those who need affordable access to healthcare services.
This is a federal law and the GSCC must comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
Authorized Exemptions:
There are two exemptions that are available to you, our contractors, volunteers, and students:
Medical Exemptions
Medical exemptions must be recommended in writing by a licensed medical provider
Medical exemptions must be related to a history of certain allergic reactions to vaccines, or any other medical condition that qualifies as a valid medical exemption
Medical exemptions must be documented on a GSCC Medical Exemption Form
Medical exemptions must be received by Traci King, CHRO by 5p on November 29th
Religious Exemptions
Religious exemptions must be for sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, or practices that conflict with being vaccinated
Religious exemptions must be documented on a GSCC Religious Exemption Form
Additional documentation to support religious beliefs may be required
Religious exemptions must be received by Traci King, CHRO by 5p on November 29th
Medical and religious exemptions will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The GSCC will take steps to ensure that exemptions are appropriate and can be granted and reasonably accommodated without imposing an undue hardship on the GSCC or posing a health and/or safety risk to the individual, others in the workplace and patients of the GSCC.
If you choose to apply for a religious exemption based on fetal cell use in vaccine development/manufacturing, make sure to do your research as other vaccines you may have had, and several common over-the-counter meds also include fetal cell use in their development which could potentially prohibit an exemption.
Exemption requests will be determined in accordance with appropriate guidelines and the ability to reasonably accommodate the request.
Determinations will be made in accordance with federal, state, and local laws governing policy provisions.
Failure to be granted a medical or religious exemption along with declining to receive a COVID-19 vaccination will constitute voluntary separation from the GSCC effective December 6, 2021.
Important Things to Know/Do:
Read the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Procedures (document links are on the “Team Member Resources” page on HERD THAT).
Pay careful attention to the “Important Dates/Deadlines” portion of the Procedures.
Decide quickly if you are going to choose to be vaccinated, request for a medical or religious exemption or decline to be vaccinated by the appropriate federal deadlines. The deadlines are approaching quickly.
If you are planning to seek a medical exemption, you only have a week and a half to have an appointment and get the proper documents to Traci in HR.
If you choose to be seen by a GSCC provider for a medical exemption, please schedule an appointment with either Dr. Carnahan or Randy. Medical exemptions from other providers internally will not be accepted. If you have difficulty getting an appointment with Dr. Carnahan or Randy this week, reach out to Traci and she will ensure appointment accommodations can be made for you.
If you choose to seek a medical exemption by an outside provider, please make sure that you get them the proper documentation and follow-up with Traci to ensure receipt of your exemption recommendation.
If you choose not to get vaccinated or receive an exemption, your termination date will be December 6, 2021 (unless you choose to leave earlier) and your final paycheck will be December 24, 2021.
You will not be paid for any remaining PTO balances.
Expectations as a GSCC team member:
Understand that the GSCC has no choice but to comply with federal laws governing the health center.
Be understanding of the choices that team members make with regard to the mandate.
If you have concerns and questions, we ask that you work them through with Traci or another Leadership Team Member before you discuss your concerns with your team/co-workers.
Please direct all questions to Traci for help navigating this process.
Understand that this situation is difficult for everyone so please be kind and continue to exemplify our core values to each other…LOVE, RESPECT, FIGHT, RESILIENCE and FLEXIBILITY.
Important Links:
COVID-19 Policy and related documents: https://www.ibuildhealth.org/team-member-resources
Carter County Health Department COVID-19 vaccine appointment link: https://vaccinate.oklahoma.gov/en-US/