Southwest Montana News

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has issued a statement regarding the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. The state is currently assessing how this mandate from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will affect Montana's health care facilities and their employees, particularly in light of conflicting state laws.

According to DPHHS Director Adam Meier, "The State is reviewing the implications of the CMS health care worker vaccine mandate for Montana health care facilities and their employees, especially as it conflicts with Montana law." He noted that the timeline set by CMS provides some time for affected parties to determine their course of action.

Meier expressed concern over CMS's decision to implement the mandate without seeking public input or considering its potential impact on frontier states like Montana. He stated, "It is unfortunate that CMS adopted the mandate without either first taking comment or considering the dire impact of a health care worker vaccine mandate on frontier states like Montana."

Montana is already dealing with a significant shortage of health care workers, and Meier warned that this new requirement could worsen these challenges. He urged eligible residents to consult with their personal health care providers about getting vaccinated but emphasized that mandating vaccination contradicts state law. "To mandate vaccination, however, conflicts with Montana law and will further strain our health care facilities which are struggling to maintain adequate levels of health care workers," he said.