Governor Extends Health Care Workforce Emergency Executive Order
On Jan. 22nd, Governor Hochul extended the health care workforce emergency by issuing Executive Order (EO) 4.17. This EO continues, until Feb. 21, 2023, the workforce flexibilities previously granted to health care providers in EO 4 and EO 4.1, including the authority for, among other items:
- nurses, respiratory therapists, physician assistants, and other professionals licensed in other states to practice in New York;
- non-patient-specific orders for authorized individuals to collect COVID-19 specimens, administer vaccinations for flu or COVID-19, and perform other tasks under the supervision of a nurse that are otherwise within the scope of practice of a nurse;
- nurses to order collection of COVID-19 specimens;
- non-nursing staff to collect COVID-19 specimens, administer vaccinations against flu or COVID-19, and perform other tasks under the supervision of a nurse that are otherwise limited to the scope of practice of a nurse;
- certified home health agencies (CHHAs) to conduct initial patient visits within 48 hours of receipt and acceptance of a community referral or return home from institutional placement; and
- home care agencies to conduct in-home supervision of aides as soon as practicable after the initial service visit or through indirect means, including by telephone or video.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828