WCHS must comply

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow the vaccine mandate for health care facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid money, Weston County Health Services employees have until Jan. 27 to get vaccinated, unless an exemption has been approved, according to CEO Maureen Cadwell. 
“Employees will have to submit an exemption form by Jan. 19, get their first of two-shot series or the first of the J&J by Jan. 27 and their second shot by Feb. 28,” Cadwell said. “We are still concerned about employees deciding not to submit an exemption if they are choosing to not get the vaccine and thereby losing them as employees.” 
Cadwell reported that 35 staff members are either unvaccinated or have not submitted an exemption form for medical or religious reasons. The district employs approximately 200 people among the hospital, clinics and other operations. 
As previously reported, the Weston County Health Services board of trustees approved a vaccine mandate policy on Nov. 18, despite questions about the board’s legal, moral and constitutional ability to require employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The policy was sparked by the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate, the rules of which were drafted by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. 
According to Cadwell, the district could lose roughly $15 million if the vaccine mandate is not enforced at WCHS. These reimbursements include costs at the hospital, nursing home and clinic services for people on Medicare and Medicaid.