FCH board discusses vaccine mandate

A vaccine mandate for health workers was the topic of discussion for the Faith Community Hospital board during their Nov. 22 meeting.

FCH CEO Frank Beaman said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) now have a rule for those who have not received their vaccines yet. All medical employees with two exceptions must have their initial vaccinations by Dec. 6 and their second vaccinations by Jan. 4, 2022.

The mandate includes all employees and volunteers. Beaman said it does not include vendors who come by weekly or radiologists or other telehealth workers.

Two exemptions are allowed: one for medical and another for religious reasons. The hospital’s executive team will determine whether the exemptions qualify during a meeting this week.

Board Attorney David Spiller says a ruling from the Attorney General’s office says CMS has violated its own rules which were based on what the Biden Administration told them. Spiller said he has 22 counties and 20 hospitals in his new district.

“This is a potential catastrophe,” Beaman said. “It’s not like you can go down the street, finding nurses.”

Beaman said in some cases nurses are being paid $240 per hour to work. The new mandates being piled on will only add fuel to the fire, especially in rural counties.

“We’re not talking about paying $1 a gallon more for gas,” Beaman explained. “This can determine whether a baby lives or dies. This is whether a heart attack gets treated in a timely manner or not.”

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Dec. 1 edition of the Jacksboro Herald-Gazette.