Protecting Vulnerable Patients Act

To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require providers to receive the COVID–19 vaccine upon full approval by the Food & Drug Administration unless an exception applies, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Vulnerable Patients Act 2. Requirement and exception under Medicare and Medicaid to have received the COVID–19 vaccine upon full approval by the Food & Drug Administration (a) Requirement To be vaccinated and exception (1) Condition of participation in Medicare Section 1866(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)(1) (A) in subparagraph (X), by striking at the end and (B) in subparagraph (Y)(ii)(V), by striking the period at the end and inserting , and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (Y)(ii)(V) the following new subparagraph: (Z) (i) subject to clause (ii), beginning on the date on which any COVID–19 vaccine is approved under section 505(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, in the case of a provider of services, to have received any such vaccine by such date; and (ii) except in the case of a provider of services who elects not to receive such vaccine due to medical necessity or religious beliefs, and publicly discloses (as determined by the Secretary) prior to furnishing services to patients the COVID–19 vaccination status of the provider. . (2) State plan requirement in Medicaid Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395a(a) (A) in paragraph (86), by striking at the end and (B) in paragraph (87)(D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by inserting after paragraph (87)(D) the following new paragraph: (88) (A) subject to subparagraph (B), beginning on the date on which any COVID–19 vaccine is approved under section 505(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, require that any physician or provider participating under the State plan to have received any such vaccine by such date; and (B) except in the case of a physician or provider who elects not to receive such vaccine due to medical necessity or religious beliefs, and publicly discloses (as determined by the Secretary) prior to furnishing services to patients the COVID–19 vaccination status of the physician or provider. . (b) Prohibition of payment If not vaccinated and exception (1) Medicare (A) Part A Section 1815 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395g (g) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), no payment shall be made to a provider of services under this title for any service furnished to an individual by such a provider who, beginning on the date on which any COVID–19 vaccine is approved under section 505(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, not received such vaccine by such date. (2) Paragraph (1) may not apply if a provider of services elects not to receive such vaccine due to medical necessity or religious beliefs, and publicly discloses (as determined by the Secretary) prior to furnishing services to patients the COVID–19 vaccination status of the provider. . (B) Part B Section 1848 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–20 (u) Prohibition of payment relating to COVID–19 vaccine and exception (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), no payment shall be made to a physician under this subsection for any service furnished to an individual by such a provider who, beginning on the date on which any COVID–19 vaccine is approved under section 505(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, not received such vaccine by such date. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) may not apply if a physician elects not to receive such vaccine due to medical necessity or religious beliefs, and publicly discloses (as determined by the Secretary) prior to furnishing services to patients the COVID–19 vaccination status of the physician. . (2) Medicaid Section 1903(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396b(i) (A) in paragraph (66), by striking at the end or (B) in paragraph (87)(D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (C) by inserting after paragraph (26) the following new paragraph: (27) with respect to any amounts expended for medical assistance for an individual which is provided by a physician or provider who has not received any COVID–19 vaccine beginning on the date on which such vaccine is approved under section 505(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. .

Summary: Protecting Vulnerable Patients Act This bill requires health care providers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid participation. Specifically, participating providers must receive a COVID-19 vaccine by the date on which a vaccine is fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Providers who choose not to receive the vaccine due to medical necessity or religious beliefs must publicly disclose their vaccination status prior to furnishing services.