Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the State of New Hampshire has joined with the states of Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota and North Dakota to file a lawsuit against the federal government for imposing a vaccine mandate on all workers at healthcare facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding.

In connection with the filing, Governor Chris Sununu and Attorney General Formella released the following statements:

“We have heard from long term care facilities that are at risk of shutting down if this mandate goes through,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “This lawsuit can help stop another overreaching mandate in its tracks, avoiding a catastrophic workforce and care crisis for some of our State’s most vulnerable residents.”

“The available Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and the State understands that many healthcare facilities have or will voluntarily implement a vaccine mandate for their employees,” said Attorney General Formella. “Unfortunately, the new mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was not adopted in conformance with the law and would force a vaccine mandate on every worker in every healthcare facility that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding. We are once again obligated to take action to protect the State from this illegal mandate and the burden it would place on our already strained healthcare workers and facilities.”

• A copy of the complaint is attached.