Tag: Public Comment

OSHA Public Hearing on COVID-19 Health Care Rulemaking

On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an interim final rule establishing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present (86 FR 32376). The ETS took effect immediately but also served as a proposed rule on which OSHA requested comment.

OSHA received comments concerning the ETS during the comment period, which was to end on July 21, 2021, but was extended to August 20, 2021, in response to requests from the public (86 FR 38232). In accordance with 29 USC 655(c)(3), the agency is now preparing to promulgate a final standard.

On March 22, 2022, OSHA announced a limited re-opening of the record and the agency’s intention to hold an informal public hearing to gather certain additional information from healthcare industry stakeholders – Federal Register Notice.

Public Comment

The public comment period opened Wednesday, March 23, 2022. The deadline for submitting comments is April 22, 2022. Comments and associated documents for this rulemaking (Docket Number OSHA-2020-0004) should be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

Public Hearing

The hearing will begin on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, and will continue on April 28, April 29, and May 2, 2022. The hearing schedule provides additional details on the days and times that stakeholders who submitted a timely notice of intention to appear (NOITA) will testify.

The hearing will be held virtually. Stakeholders who submitted a timely NOITA will receive additional participation information, including log-in details for the virtual hearing, by email.

Members of the general public will be able to access a live stream of the hearing using the following links:

  1. April 27th – https://youtu.be/KINCXznAvok
  2. April 28th – https://youtu.be/zE09g7_eNy8
  3. April 29th – https://youtu.be/W_ckBau-Q8o
  4. May 2nd – https://youtu.be/zzAN8GRyL8o

The Youtube page has a start time for 8:30 AM ET for all public sessions.

Before the hearing, OSHA will make the hearing procedures available on this webpage and in the docket.

OSHA Public Hearing on COVID-19 Health Care Rulemaking

On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an interim final rule establishing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present (86 FR 32376). The ETS took effect immediately but also served as a proposed rule on which OSHA requested comment.

OSHA received comments concerning the ETS during the comment period, which was to end on July 21, 2021, but was extended to August 20, 2021, in response to requests from the public (86 FR 38232). In accordance with 29 USC 655(c)(3), the agency is now preparing to promulgate a final standard.

On March 22, 2022, OSHA announced a limited re-opening of the record and the agency’s intention to hold an informal public hearing to gather certain additional information from healthcare industry stakeholders – Federal Register Notice

Public Comment

The public comment period opened Wednesday, March 23, 2022. The deadline for submitting comments is April 22, 2022. Comments and associated documents for this rulemaking (Docket Number OSHA-2020-0004) should be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

Public Hearing

The hearing will begin on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, and will continue on April 28, April 29, and May 2, 2022. The hearing schedule provides additional details on the days and times that stakeholders who submitted a timely notice of intention to appear (NOITA) will testify.

The hearing will be held virtually. Stakeholders who submitted a timely NOITA will receive additional participation information, including log-in details for the virtual hearing, by email.

Members of the general public will be able to access a live stream of the hearing using the following links:

  1. April 27th – https://youtu.be/KINCXznAvok
  2. April 28th – https://youtu.be/zE09g7_eNy8
  3. April 29th – https://youtu.be/W_ckBau-Q8o
  4. May 2nd – https://youtu.be/zzAN8GRyL8o

The Youtube page has a start time for 8:30 AM ET for all public sessions.

Before the hearing, OSHA will make the hearing procedures available on this webpage and in the docket.

OSHA Public Hearing on COVID-19 Health Care Rulemaking

On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an interim final rule establishing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present (86 FR 32376). The ETS took effect…

OSHA Seeks Additional Comments on the COVID-19 Healthcare ETS

  • Comments are due April 22, 2022

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a Federal Register notice to allow for additional public comments and scheduled an informal public hearing  related to the development of a final standard to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from workplace exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

On June 21, 2021, OSHA issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect workers in healthcare settings from occupational exposure to COVID-19. The ETS focused on healthcare workers most likely to have contact with people infected with the virus. The ETS took effect immediately, and all but the recordkeeping and reporting requirements, expired on December 27, 2021, The ETS served as a proposed rule for COVID-19 standards. OSHA requested public comments on whether the ETS should become permanent.

OSHA is  requesting stakeholder comments on changes to the ETS along with other areas of  interest.

Potential changes from the ETS:

  • Alignment with CDC recommendations for healthcare infection control practices
    • OSHA is considering whether it is appropriate to align its final rule with some or all of the CDC recommendations that have changed between the close of the original comment period for this rule and the close of this comment period.
  • Additional flexibility for employers
    • OSHA is considering restating various provisions as broader requirements without the level of detail included in the Healthcare ETS and providing a “safe harbor” enforcement policy for employers.
  • Removal of scope exemptions (e.g., ambulatory care facilities where covid-19 patients are screened out; home healthcare)
    • OSHA is considering whether the scope of the final standard should cover employers regardless of screening procedures for non-employees and/or vaccination status of employees.
  • Tailoring controls to address interactions with people with suspected or confirmed covid-19:
    • OSHA is considering the need for COVID-19-specific infection control measures in areas where healthcare employees are not reasonably expected to encounter people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
  • Booster doses, employer support of employee vaccination, and requirements for vaccinated workers; although OSHA is not considering at this time requiring mandatory vaccination for employees
    • OSHA is considering an adjustment to the requirement that would include paid time up to 4 hours, including travel time, for employees to receive a vaccine and paid sick leave to recover from side effects.
    • OSHA is considering whether to limit the provisions that provide support for vaccination to employees not covered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccination rule.
    • OSHA is considering suggestions that requirements be relaxed: for masking, barriers, or physical distancing for vaccinated workers in all areas of healthcare settings, not just where there is no reasonable expectation that someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 will be present.
  • Limited coverage of construction activities in healthcare settings
    • OSHA is considering the same coverage for workers engaged in construction work inside a hospital.
  • New cap for covid-19 log retention period
    • OSHA proposes to cap the record retention period for the COVID-19 log at one year from the date of the last entry in the log.
  • Triggering requirements based on the level of community transmission
    • OSHA is considering linking regulatory requirements to measures of local risk, such as CDC’s community transmission used in CDC’s guidance for healthcare settings.
  • Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 into a Second Novel Strain
    • OSHA is considering specifying that this final standard would apply not only to COVID-19, but also to subsequent related strains of the virus that are transmitted through aerosols and pose similar risks and health effects.

OSHA is also seeking data requests on the impact of COVID-19 and information for an economic analysis for implementing permanent COVID-19 related standards.

Public comments are due April 22, 2022.

A virtual public hearing will begin on April 27, 2022.  If necessary, the hearing will continue on subsequent days.

Individuals interested in testifying at the hearing must submit their notice of intention to appear by April 6, 2022. Before the hearing, OSHA will make the hearing procedures and hearing schedule available on this webpage

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice submitted the comments on the Occupational Exposure to COVID–19; Emergency Temporary Standard with the first request for public comments on the ETS.

OSHA Seeks Additional Comments on the COVID-19 Healthcare ETS

  • Comments are due April 22, 2022

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a Federal Register notice to allow for additional public comments and scheduled an informal public hearing  related to the development of a final standard to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from workplace exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

On June 21, 2021, OSHA issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect workers in healthcare settings from occupational exposure to COVID-19. The ETS focused on healthcare workers most likely to have contact with people infected with the virus. The ETS took effect immediately, and all but the recordkeeping and reporting requirements, expired on December 27, 2021, The ETS served as a proposed rule for COVID-19 standards. OSHA requested public comments on whether the ETS should become permanent.

OSHA is  requesting stakeholder comments on changes to the ETS along with other areas of  interest.

Potential changes from the ETS:

  • Alignment with CDC recommendations for healthcare infection control practices
    • OSHA is considering whether it is appropriate to align its final rule with some or all of the CDC recommendations that have changed between the close of the original comment period for this rule and the close of this comment period.
  • Additional flexibility for employers
    • OSHA is considering restating various provisions as broader requirements without the level of detail included in the Healthcare ETS and providing a “safe harbor” enforcement policy for employers.
  • Removal of scope exemptions (e.g., ambulatory care facilities where covid-19 patients are screened out; home healthcare)
    • OSHA is considering whether the scope of the final standard should cover employers regardless of screening procedures for non-employees and/or vaccination status of employees.
  • Tailoring controls to address interactions with people with suspected or confirmed covid-19:
    • OSHA is considering the need for COVID-19-specific infection control measures in areas where healthcare employees are not reasonably expected to encounter people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
  • Booster doses, employer support of employee vaccination, and requirements for vaccinated workers; although OSHA is not considering at this time requiring mandatory vaccination for employees
    • OSHA is considering an adjustment to the requirement that would include paid time up to 4 hours, including travel time, for employees to receive a vaccine and paid sick leave to recover from side effects.
    • OSHA is considering whether to limit the provisions that provide support for vaccination to employees not covered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccination rule.
    • OSHA is considering suggestions that requirements be relaxed: for masking, barriers, or physical distancing for vaccinated workers in all areas of healthcare settings, not just where there is no reasonable expectation that someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 will be present.
  • Limited coverage of construction activities in healthcare settings
    • OSHA is considering the same coverage for workers engaged in construction work inside a hospital.
  • New cap for covid-19 log retention period
    • OSHA proposes to cap the record retention period for the COVID-19 log at one year from the date of the last entry in the log.
  • Triggering requirements based on the level of community transmission
    • OSHA is considering linking regulatory requirements to measures of local risk, such as CDC’s community transmission used in CDC’s guidance for healthcare settings.
  • Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 into a Second Novel Strain
    • OSHA is considering specifying that this final standard would apply not only to COVID-19, but also to subsequent related strains of the virus that are transmitted through aerosols and pose similar risks and health effects.

OSHA is also seeking data requests on the impact of COVID-19 and information for an economic analysis for implementing permanent COVID-19 related standards.

Public comments are due April 22, 2022.

A virtual public hearing will begin on April 27, 2022.  If necessary, the hearing will continue on subsequent days.

Individuals interested in testifying at the hearing must submit their notice of intention to appear by April 6, 2022. Before the hearing, OSHA will make the hearing procedures and hearing schedule available on this webpage

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice submitted the comments on the Occupational Exposure to COVID–19; Emergency Temporary Standard with the first request for public comments on the ETS.

OSHA Seeks Additional Comments on the COVID-19 Healthcare ETS

Comments are due April 22, 2022 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a Federal Register notice to allow for additional public comments and scheduled an informal public hearing  related to the development of a final standard to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from workplace exposure to the COVID-19 virus. On…

OSHA Extends Comment Period for COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

As reported here on June 15, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. During the period of the emergency standard, covered healthcare…

OSHA Extends Comment Period for COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

As reported in NAHC Report on June 15, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. During the period of the emergency standard, covered healthcare employers must develop and implement a COVID-19 plan to identify and control COVID-19 hazards in the workplace.

On Thursday, July 8, OSHA announced it will publish a notice in the Federal Register to extend the comment period for the COVID-19 healthcare emergency temporary standard (ETS) to August 20, 2021.

OSHA is extending the comment period by 30 days to allow stakeholders additional time to review the ETS and collect information and data necessary for comment.

Comments can be submitted electronically for Docket No. OSHA-2020-0004 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for making electronic submissions.

More information about the ETS is available at:  https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets.

OSHA Seeks Comments on Bloodborne Pathogen Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking public comments on its Bloodborne Pathogen Standards.  The Bloodborne Pathogen Standards are due for the three year Office of Management and Budget renewal under the Paperwork Reduction Act. As part of this renewal, OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:  Whether the…

Public Comment Sought on Community-based Palliative Care Measures

In September 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded seven organizations new cooperative agreements to partner in developing, improving, updating, or expanding quality measures for Medicare’s Quality Payment Program (QPP).  Among these cooperative agreements, authorized under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), was a $5.5 million grant to…