Maryland Commission on Kidney Disease
GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, MDH Order, guidance, and letters
01/29/2021 COVID-19 Update
- Requires all hospitals to submit a pandemic plan to the Health Secretary that includes strategies to expand hospital bed capacity. Plans due by Dec 8, 2020.
- If hospitals statewide reach a total of 8,000 hospitalizations (COVID and non-COVID) or greater, hospitals will be required to expand their staffed bed capacity by 10% of each hospital’s physical bed capacity within seven calendar days.
- The same mechanism will be activated at 9,000 and at 10,000 statewide hospitalizations of all patient types
- Hospitals will have the flexibility to create additional bed capacity in whatever way makes the most sense for each hospital, including transferring patients to alternative sites, reducing elective and non-urgent procedures, and bringing on additional staffed bed capacity.
Advises hospitals and nursing homes that they should use the Maryland Board of Nursing’s March 2020 flexibilities to use unlicensed individuals as health care extenders and to perform nursing support tasks with appropriate training and supervision.
Suspends the COMAR requirement for a practicum for community health worker students and allows a CHW student to substitute it with employment as a CHW
Recommends that hospitals use their community health workers to extend care.
Tells hospitals that they should use the Hospital Association’s Chesapeake Registry to fill their staffing needs
Recommends cancelling non-essential time off for staff through January 31, 2021 and that hospitals look at addressing staff barriers to work
Letters:
1. Governor to Med School Deans: asking them to create flexibilities in their programs to allow students to work/volunteer in hospitals and nursing homes
2. Governor to Nursing Programs: asking them to create flexibilities in their programs to allow students to work/volunteer in hospitals and nursing homes
3. MDH to Hospital CEOs: directing them to use the Chesapeake Registry, MDMedNow, and MD Board of Nursing licensing flexibilities to enhance hospital staffing per notice
Governor's Executive Order about closures:
A Board is not authorized to provide licensees with legal advice regarding the definition of essential businesses. Please refer to the Governor's Executive Order, the CISA list of essential businesses, the following guidance from the Office of Legal Counsel and the following Directive Order (#6) published by Secretary Neall below for guidance:
INTERPRETIVE GUIDANCE - OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL:
Number: COVID19-04
Date: March 23, 2020
Re: Order of the Governor of the State of Maryland, Number 20-03-23-01, dated March 23, 2020, Amending and Restating the Order of March 19, 2020, Prohibiting Large Gatherings and Events and Closing Senior Centers, and Additionally Closing All Non-Essential Businesses and Other Establishments
2. Businesses, Organizations, and Facilities That May Remain Open. The following is a non exhaustive list of businesses, organizations, and facilities that are included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors. The Order does not require these businesses, organizations, and facilities to close.
The Healthcare and Public Health Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Hospitals.
ii. Healthcare systems and clinics.
iii. Offices of health care providers, including physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
iv. Physical, occupation, and speech therapists.
v. Behavioral health facilities and professionals, including psychologists, mental health counselors, and substance abuse counselors
vi. Rehabilitation facilities.
vii. Diagnostic facilities, including radiology, imaging, and laboratory facilities.
viii. Health plans, payors, and billing companies.
ix. Funeral homes and crematoriums.
x. Senior living facilities, including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing.
xi. Manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment and supplies.
xii. Medical cannabis growers, processors, and dispensaries.
xiii. Home health care companies. xiv. Pharmacies.
SECRETARY NEALL’S DIRECTIVE AND ORDER REGARDING VARIOUS HEALTHCARE MATTERS
Pursuant to Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. §§ 2-104, 18-102, 18-103, 18-205, 18-902, 18-904, and Public Safety § 14-3A-03
I, Robert R. Neall, Secretary of Health, finding it necessary for the prevention and control of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“SARS-CoV-2” or “2019-NCoV” or “COVID-19”), and for the protection of the health and safety of patients, staff, and other individuals in Maryland, hereby authorize and order the following actions for the prevention and control of this infectious and contagious disease under the Governor’s Declaration of Catastrophic Health Emergency:
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER MATTERS
Hospital Contingency Plans
All licensed hospitals shall implement the medical staff plans required by COMAR 10.07.01.24G(2) to grant temporary disaster privileges. The plans shall remain in effect for the duration of the catastrophic health emergency.
Elective and Non-urgent Medical Procedures - Licensed Health Care Facilities
Pursuant to the Executive Order of March 16, 2020 relating to various health care matters and in accordance with the guidance issued by MDH and posted on its website at coronavirus.maryland.gov, all licensed hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and all other licensed health care facilities shall cease all elective and non-urgent medical procedures effective at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and not provide any such procedures for the duration of the catastrophic health emergency.
Elective and Non-urgent Medical Procedures - All Health Care Practitioners
Pursuant to the Executive Order of March 16, 2020 relating to various health care matters and in accordance with the guidance issued by MDH and posted on its website at http://coronavirus.maryland.gov, all providers of health care licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article shall perform only medical procedures that are critically necessary for the maintenance of health for a patient. All elective and non- urgent medical procedures and appointments shall cease effective at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and shall not be performed for the duration of the catastrophic health emergency.
- For Medicaid-related Coronavirus updates, visit mmcp.health.maryland.gov.
- For questions about the Coronavirus, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov.