CT Slams Health Facilities With $19M In Vax Non-Compliance Fines

CONNECTICUT —Last week, the Connecticut Department of Public Health began issuing civil penalties to long-term care facilities which have failed to comply with a vaccine mandate for their employees.

The facilities subject to Executive Order 13F include nursing homes, assisted living services agencies, managed residential communities, residential care homes, chronic disease hospitals, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IIDs).

The order required the facilities to confirm their compliance by Sept. 28. Of the 643 long-term care facilities subject to the order, 101 facilities (16 percent) had not reported to DPH as of Nov. 12.

Excluding 45 ICF/IIDs whose reporting remains under review by DPH, 59 facilities have submitted attestation reports late, while 101 facilities have failed to report altogether. Last month, DPH issued a total of $221,000 in civil penalties to 26 of the 59 facilities in the "late reporter" category.

DPH is fining assisted living service agencies, chronic disease hospitals, ICF/IIDs, managed residential communities, and nursing homes $5,000 per day. Residential care homes are being penalized $500 per day.

State officials are continuing to review the remaining 101 facilities in the "non-reporter" category. On Nov. 1, facilities classified as non-reporters were assessed on-going penalties, which did not include a seven-day grace period. DPH estimates that non-reporters are subject collectively to fines totaling more than $19 million.

DPH is also reviewing the reporting status of all ICF/IID facilities separately, since these facilities are also subject to Executive Order 13G which covers COVID-19 vaccination for child care facilities, and some appear to have reported their compliance through the reporting process set up for that order.

"The fact that facilities have failed to report their compliance with EO 13F is unacceptable," said DPH commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani. "With the holidays and colder weather approaching, we expect cases of COVID-19 to rise in the community, which increases the chances that COVID-19 cases will rise in long-term care settings. These vaccine mandates are in place to protect not only the patients and residents in long-term care but to ensure the health and safety of staff and their families and co-workers."

Long-term care facilities that have not reported can do so online here.