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On Tuesday, Geitner also slammed UCHealth for laying off unvaccinated staff, who make up less than 1% of the health system’s workforce, according to Denver Post. Hospital systems across the country demanded vaccines for workers this fall and began to suspend or terminate positions over the past week.
Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest nonprofit health care companies in the United States, has suspended more than 2,200 employees who have not yet been vaccinated or requested an exemption, according to ABC 7, a subsidiary of ‘ABC News in Los Angeles. The workers, who represent less than 2% of the company’s workforce, have been placed on unpaid administrative leave.
When Kaiser Permanente announced its vaccination mandate in August, 78% of employees had been vaccinated. Now 92% have been vaccinated, ABC 7 reported. The 2,200 workers on leave have until Dec. 1 to be vaccinated.
“That number is decreasing every day and, as employees respond, they can return to work,” the company wrote in a statement. “We hope that none of our employees choose to quit their jobs rather than get vaccinated, but we won’t know for sure until then. “
Health systems are also putting in place other vaccine-related requirements. Ochsner Health, which is Louisiana’s largest nonprofit health care system, has announced that it will charge workers an additional $ 200 per month for their unvaccinated spouses or partners who are covered by the group’s insurance policies. hospital, according to CBS News.
The health system has called the new supplement a “cost adjustment” for those who are not vaccinated, citing the high cost of treatment for patients with COVID-19. The new rule will come into effect in 2022.
Ochsner has asked all of its 32,000 employees to get vaccinated or apply for an exemption. Employees with spouses or partners who wish to remain unvaccinated can pay the fees or apply for health insurance elsewhere, the health system said.
“This is not a mandate, as non-employed spouses and domestic partners can choose to select a health plan outside of Ochsner Health’s offerings,” said Warner Thomas, chief executive officer of the health system, in a press release.
“The reality is that the cost of treating COVID-19, especially for patients requiring intensive hospital care, is expensive,” he said. “We have spent over $ 9 million on COVID care for those covered by our health plans over the past year.”
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