STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-72

(Emergency Management COVID-19 Non-essential Elective Medical Procedures)

WHEREAS, Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory
illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and presents with
of cough, fever, and shortness of breath; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, I issued Executive Order number 20?51 directing the
Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Of?cer
declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20?52 declaring a state of
emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of and

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services recommended providers limit all ?non?essential? elective medical and
surgical procedures, including dental procedures; and

WHEREAS, due to the outbreak of the State Surgeon General and the
Secretary for the Agency of Health Care Administration have recommended, due to the current
conditions caused by in this state, 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;

and

WHEREAS, due to the outbreak of it is necessary to preserve essential
resources for use by health care professionals and others responding to this emergency, including
personal protective equipment, that may be used by physicians, dentists, and other health care
provider practices; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate to take action to ensure that COVID-19
remains controlled, and that residents and visitors in Florida remain safe and secure;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by Article IV, Section of the Florida Constitution, Chapter 252,
Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take
immediate effect: 2 I

Section 1. Because of the foregoing conditions, and based on recommendations from the
Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration by reason of conditions
arising from this emergency, I hereby employ the following measures and direct as follows:
Pursuant to section Florida Statutes,

A. All hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, of?ce surgery centers, dental,
orthodontic and endodontic of?ces, and other health care practitioners? of?ces in the State of
Florida are prohibited from providing any medically unnecessary, non-urgent or non-emergency
procedure or surgery which, 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.

B. As articulated in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommendation,
examples of procedures to delay may include, but are not limited to, some endoscopy, most cataract
and lens surgeries, non-urgent spine and orthopedic procedures, and cosmetic procedures.

C. As articulated in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommendation,
permissible procedures include, but may not be limited to, removal of a cancerous tumors,

transplants, limb-threatening vascular surgeries, trauma-related procedures, and dental care related

to the relief of pain and management of infection.

Section 2. The Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Health shall
utilize their authority under Florida law to further implement and enforce the provisions of this
Executive Order and shall take additional measures as necessary to protect the public health, safety

and welfare.

Section 3. This Executive Order shall expire upon the expiration of Executive Order 20-

52, including any extensions.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of
Florida to be af?xed, at Tallahassee, this 20th day of

   

 

   

ON DESANTIS, GOVERNOR

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SECRETARY OF STATE