Posted: | May 1, 2020 03:09 PM |
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From: | Representative Greg Rothman |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Waiver for Licensed Health Care Practitioners |
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to issue a waiver to the Governor’s COVID-19 Business Closure to ensure health care providers can resume treating patients on a routine basis. Since March, certain health care providers such as dentists, optometrists and audiologists have been prohibited from providing routine care to their patients during COVID-19 and have only been permitted to see patients on an emergency basis. This has had an overwhelming impact on patients who need routine eye, hearing and oral health care and has led to confusion in regard to what is considered urgent and non-urgent care. Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity and consistency among other health care providers such as chiropractors, orthodontists and physicians on which patient populations they can see, and confusion exists among patients on whether they are permitted to schedule an appointment for a routine visit or exam. My legislation will ensure that patients will be able to receive all services by providers such as optometrists, dentists, orthodontists, chiropractors, audiologists and physicians. I believe all of these providers, and the settings they provide essential services in, have the ability to do so in a safe manner and in a way to adhere to the mitigation techniques required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2488