Gov. Bill Lee quietly issued a new executive order yesterday on August 6th with little fanfare. Here are a few things in the EO that we find exceptionally concerning.
5. Behavioral health inpatient psychiatric residential, and crisis care staffing flexibility is permitted pursuant to an approved plan to relieve the capacity strain on certain staffing functions.
7. Health care student staffing flexibility is permitted in inpatient psychiatric and behavioral health settings pur...suant to an approved plan to relieve the capacity strain on certain staffing functions.
**8. Discretion to utilize National Guard and State Guard members in connection with certain health care and emergency services operations.
**14. Telephone assessments for involuntary commitment cases are permitted.
16. Medical laboratory directors can monitor facilities remotely.
**18. Temporary quarantine and isolation facilities may be constructed.
19. Inspection of mental health and substance abuse facilities and services are suspended.
20. Health care licensing inspections and investigations are suspended to increases resources available to fight COVID- 19 and to protect public health.
21. Inspections of health care facilities are suspended.