Florida Executive Order 20-72
We have received numerous requests for information regarding the Florida Executive Order 20-72 Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Non-essential Elective Medical Procedures. To answer these questions, you need to look at the judicial intent of the order. The intent of the order is for individuals to avoid contact or spreading COVID-19, and to conserve medical supplies. A copy of the executive order is attached. Additional information is below.
The order states “take action to ensure that COVID-19 remains controlled, and that residents and visitors in Florida remain safe and secure”.
The order also states “that appropriate measures must be taken to conserve all medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, to only that which is necessary to be used in response to this emergency or for any other medical event of urgent or emergent nature”.
The governmental agencies are not going to provide a list of acceptable and non-acceptable procedures. What the governmental agencies will say is that providers are to use medical judgment to determine if not performing the procedure will contribute to a worsening of a serious condition or life-threatening medical condition.
Additionally, we reached out to the Florida Department of Health for clarification regarding the executive order 20-72. Specifically, we asked the following question:
“The order states non-essential elective medical procedures. Would this include diagnostic tests, such as Echocardiograms and Cardiovascular Stress tests. These are tests, would they fall under the term “procedures”? Could you provide additional clarification?”
Below is their response.
Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 7:03 PM
Thank you for writing to the COVID-19 Call Center.
Health care practitioners will need to use their professional judgement to determine what medical procedures are non-essential. The Executive Order states that if delayed, does not place a patient’s immediate health, safety, or well-being at risk, or will, if delayed, not contribute to the worsening of a serious or life-threatening medical condition. Accordingly, all health care practitioners licensed in the State of Florida, including dentists, shall immediately cease performing these elective services.
This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. The CDC and State of Florida will continue to provide updated information and guidance through their websites.
Please be sure to visit and regularly monitor the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage at www.FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19. This remains the best and most up-to-date resource for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida.
You may also visit CDC’s website for more information regarding COVID-19 at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
The Call Center can be reached by calling 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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