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This information is current as of 4/6/2020.
Contents
Alaska (3/27/20)
II. ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
- Businesses exempted from Section I are strongly encouraged to remain in operation while complying with social distancing requirements, by maintaining six-foot social distancing for both employees and members of the public, including, but not limited to, when any customers are standing in line.
- For purposes of this Order, Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure industries and entities in Alaska include:
“Healthcare Operations,” including hospitals, clinics, dental emergency services, pharmacies, other healthcare facilities, home healthcare services and providers, mental health providers, companies and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology therapies, consumer health products, medical devices, diagnostics, equipment, services, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services. “Healthcare Operations” also includes veterinary care and healthcare services provided to animals.
“Healthcare Operations” does not include fitness and exercise gyms and similar facilities.
California (3/23/20)
THE BASICS
What if I need to visit a health care provider?
- If you are feeling sick with flu-like symptoms, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center.
- If you need to go to the hospital, call ahead so they can prepare for your arrival. If you need to call 911, tell the 911 operator the exact symptoms you are experiencing so the ambulance provider can prepare to treat you safely.
What about routine, elective or non-urgent medical appointments?
- Non-essential medical care like eye exams, teeth cleaning, and elective procedures must/should be cancelled or rescheduled. If possible, health care visits should be done remotely.
- Contact your health care provider to see what services they are providing.
May I still go out to get my prescriptions?
- Yes. You may leave your home to obtain prescriptions or get cannabis from a licensed cannabis retailer.
MORE DETAILS SPECIFIC TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
I’m a medical provider – am I allowed to remain open for preventive and non-urgent care?
Yes. If you are a medical provider, your office is encouraged to remain open. Under the Order, all medical services, including routine and preventive care, are considered essential. This includes, but is not limited to:
- mental health services
- immunizations
- well-woman exams
- allergy shots
- physical therapy
- surgeries
With the exception of dental services, preventive and non-urgent care should generally not be deferred. Many visits involve exams or procedures that must be done in person, but practitioners are encouraged to conduct appointments remotely via phone or telemedicine when it is appropriate and feasible to do so.
Can I continue to use reflexology, massage therapy, chiropractic, or similar services?
You may continue to use these services if your healthcare provider has determined that they are medically necessary for you.
Can I still go to my mental health appointments?
Yes, mental health appointments can continue. Patients should consult with their practitioners to determine whether it is appropriate and feasible to conduct individual mental health appointments remotely.
Colorado (3/30/20)
Acupuncture is specifically listed as non-essential in the CO stay-at-home mandate. Acupuncture services cannot be offered, no matter how medically necessary.
Can I get a prescription filled or take care of other health care needs?
Yes. Pharmacies and other medical services will remain open. You should request for your prescriptions to be delivered to your home if that is possible.
Connecticut (3/20/20)
Those business shall include, but not be limited to, the 16 critical infrastructure sectors as defined by the Department of Homeland Security at https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors.
- essential health care operations including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, elder care and home health care workers, companies and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals,
- biotechnology therapies, health care data, consumer health products, medical
- devices, diagnostics, equipment, services and any other healthcare related supplies or services
Illinois (3/9/20)
Leaving the home for essential activities is permitted. For purposes of this Executive Order, individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following Essential Activities:
a. For health and safety. To engage in activities or perform tasks essential to their health and safety, or to the health and safety of their family or household members (including, but not limited to, pets), such as, by way of example only and without limitation, seeking emergency services, obtaining medical supplies or medication, or visiting a health care professional.
Maryland (3/30/20)
STAY AT HOME ORDER. No Maryland resident should be leaving their home unless it is for an essential job or for an essential reason, such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention, or for other necessary purposes.
New York (3/27/20)
For purposes of Executive Order 202.6, “Essential Business,” means businesses operating in or as:
Essential health care operations including
- research and laboratory services
- hospitals
- walk-in-care health clinics and facilities
- emergency veterinary, livestock services
- senior/elder care
- medical wholesale and distribution
- home health care workers or aides for the elderly
- doctor and emergency dental
- nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities
- medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers
- licensed mental health providers
- licensed substance abuse treatment providers
Oregon (4/4/20)
Background
Health care facilities currently face an enormous challenge in providing safe care to patients during a pandemic. On March 19, 2020, Governor Brown issued Executive Order No. 20-10 to cancel all elective and non-urgent health care procedures that require personal protective equipment (PPE) effective March 23, 2020. Elective and non-urgent procedures can be rescheduled for no earlier than June 15, 2020. This decision was not made lightly, and the Governor recognizes the implications for the health care systems and the financial repercussions. However, this action is necessary given anticipated surges in health care need due to COVID-19, and the importance of preserving scarce PPE and other health care resources such as hospital beds and ventilators for situations in which it is most needed.
Authority
Executive Order 20-10.
Guidance
Which providers or facilities are covered?
The Executive Order applies to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient clinics (including community health clinics and student health centers), dental clinics, veterinary clinics and all clinics in which procedures requiring personal protective equipment are undertaken by any provider. The provider classification does not determine whether procedures are canceled; elective and non-urgent procedures for which the standard of practice requires use of PPE should be canceled.
Which procedures are exempt from the cancellation requirements?
A procedure is subject to cancellation if it is elective or non-urgent and the procedure requires the use of PPE. A procedure is exempt from the cancellation requirement if delay would put the patient at risk of irreversible harm. Risks of irreversible harm include, but are not limited to:
- Threat to the patient’s life;
- Threat of irreversible harm to the patient’s physical or mental health;
- Threat of permanent dysfunction of an extremity or organ;
- Risk of cancer metastasis or progression of staging; and
- Risk of rapidly worsening condition (i.e., need for the procedure is time-sensitive).
If you, as a health care provider, believe that a patient will suffer irreversible harm if a recommended procedure is delayed or foregone, then you should provide that care, using as little PPE as is safe and consistent with applicable infection-control guidelines and laws.
Vermont (3/13/20)
NOW THEREFORE, in order to restrict and minimize all unnecessary activities outside of the home or place of residence during the state of emergency, I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of Vermont by the Constitution of the State of Vermont, the emergency powers set forth in 20 V.S.A. §§ 8, 9 and 11 and other laws, hereby order the following:
1. To preserve the public health and safety, to ensure the healthcare delivery system is capable of serving all, and to help protect those at the highest risk and vulnerability, Vermonters are directed to stay at home or in their place of residence, leaving only for essential reasons such as: personal safety; groceries or medicine; curbside pick-up of goods, meals or beverages; medical care; exercise; care of others; and work, as set forth further below. Vermonters shall significantly restrict normal activities outside the home or place of residence, consistent with CDC guidance, to help stop the spread of the virus.
2. As previously directed, all workers shall work remotely when possible.
3. Except as set forth below, effective Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5 p.m., subject to closures and limitations provided in prior orders, all businesses and not-for-profit entities in the state shall suspend in-person business operations. These businesses and not-for-profit entities are encouraged to develop business strategies, procedures and practices such as using an on-line presence, telephone and web-based service delivery and phone or online orders for curb-side pick-up and delivery. The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), shall develop a process for responding to questions regarding acceptable continuation of business operations.
4. All businesses, governmental entities and not-for-profit entities shall develop strategies, procedures and practices designed for strict adherence to CDC and VDH guidance to ensure recommended social distancing, including, to the extent possible:
- a. maintaining a distance of 6 feet between persons;
- b. requiring employees to practice appropriate hygiene measures, including regular, thorough handwashing;
- c. requiring employees who are sick remain home; and
- d. regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
5. Businesses and entities providing services or functions deemed critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security shall remain in operation, and, except as set forth in Section 4 above, shall not be subject to the in-person restrictions set forth in Section 3.
Healthcare
Services or functions in Vermont deemed critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security include: a. health care operations such as COVID-19 testing and clinical research, hospital personnel and other healthcare providers, public health workers and other healthcare service providers, laboratory services, caregivers, logistics, technology, security and custodial support, blood and plasma donors and mortuary services.
Washington (3/23/20)
HEALTHCARE / PUBLIC HEALTH
The Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) Sector is large, diverse, and open, spanning both the public and private sectors. It includes publicly accessible healthcare facilities, research centers, suppliers, manufacturers, and other physical assets and vast, complex public-private information technology systems required for care delivery and to support the rapid, secure transmission and storage of large amounts of HPH data.
Essential Workforce
- Health care providers and caregivers (e.g., physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and assistants, midwives and doulas attending facility-based or home-based births, alternative healthcare providers, social workers, speech pathologists and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists).
- Behavioral health workers (including mental and substance use disorder) responsible for coordination, outreach, engagement, and treatment to individuals in need of mental health and/or substance use disorder services.
- Workers that manage health plans, billing, and health information, who cannot practically work remotely.
- Workers who provide support to vulnerable populations to ensure their health and well-being including family care providers.
- Pharmacy employees necessary for filling prescriptions.
