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Ex. AGY-ST-HEALTH-BOARDS-003 Order Primary source read

DOH Emergency Order 20-004

In re: Suspension of Statutes, Rules and Orders, Made Necessary by COVID-19 (audio-only telephone telehealth for existing patients; controlled-substance renewals by telehealth for seven patient classes; medical-marijuana recertification by telehealth; Volunteer Health Care Provider Program)

Scott A. Rivkees, M.D., State Surgeon General · Florida Department of Health, Office of the State Surgeon General; State level (Sector regulator)

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The COVID Project

The record

Jurisdiction
Florida Department of Health, Office of the State Surgeon General; State level · Florida
Level
Sector regulator
Authority
Executive Order 20-52 § 4.B; Fla. Stat. § 252.36(5)(a)
Issued
2020-03-31 Mar. 31, 2020
Effective
2020-03-31
In force
Mar. 31, 2020 to May 8, 2020
Quarters
2020 Q2
Limitation types
Health care ordersOther
Addressees
  • authorized telehealth providers under § 456.47(1)(b)
  • controlled-substance prescribing practitioners
  • qualified physicians under § 381.986
  • Volunteer Health Care Provider Program providers
Functions reached
  • TM telehealth (audio-only permitted, with mandatory documentation of four items in every record)
  • PR procedures and elective visits (physical examination replaced by telehealth for controlled-substance renewals in seven patient classes)
  • FD front desk and scheduling (identity-verification and platform documentation)
  • CB patients
Collection
State health licensing boards AGY-ST-HEALTH-BOARDS

Operative words

Section 2: For purposes of preparing for, responding to, and mitigating any effect of COVID-19, authorized health care practitioners under section 456.47(1)(b), Florida Statutes, that have clear and active licenses in the state of Florida may utilize audio-only telephone calls in providing health care services to existing patients. Prior to proceeding with audio-only telephone delivery of health care services, telehealth providers shall confirm that other telehealth methods are not available to the patient for treatment by documenting in the patient's medical record: 1) the steps taken to verify the patient's identity; 2) that the telehealth provider is able to currently utilize an available telehealth platform to provide treatment; 3) the name of the telehealth platform; and 4) confirmation that the health care practitioner asked the patient if a smart phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop computer is available for use. All other minimum practice requirements, scope of practice limitations, and standards of care shall still apply. This exception applies until May 8, 2020, unless extended by order of the State Surgeon General.

Enforcement

Fla. Stat. § 456.072(1)(q); § 252.50; documentation conditions are conditions of the waiver

Notes

Supersedes the chronic-pain renewal exception of DOH EO 20-002; the compelled documentation regime changed the intake and record-keeping function of every telehealth practice in Florida

Retrieval note

Executed March 31, 2020.

A record of The COVID Project. The instrument's text is the source's; the summary fields are The COVID Project's reading of it. Not legal advice.