Texas sues CMS over health care worker vaccine mandate

Texas this week filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ interim final rule requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most health care settings that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including hospitals and health systems. The lawsuit seeks to stop federal enforcement of the vaccine mandate, claiming the interim final rule exceeds CMS’ statutory authority, violates the Administrative Procedure Act and other laws, and is unconstitutional. Two state coalitions also filed separate federal lawsuits this month in Missouri and Louisiana challenging the rule, which requires all eligible workers to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, 2022.