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Florida Restricts Medically Unnecessary, Non-Urgent, or Non-Emergency Procedure or Surgery
March 21, 2020
Carlton Fields Coronavirus Resource Center

Until the expiration of executive order 20-52, including any extensions, all hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, office surgery centers, dental, orthodontic and endodontic offices, and other health care practitioners' offices 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 well­being 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 Florida, including dentists, shall immediately cease performing these elective services.

Examples of procedures to be delayed pursuant to the executive order include some endoscopy, most cataract and lens surgeries, non-urgent spine and orthopedic procedures, and cosmetic procedures.

Permissible procedures include, but may not be limited to, removal of cancerous tumors, transplants, limb-threatening vascular surgeries, trauma-related procedures, and dental care related to the relief of pain and management of infection.
Authored By
Image: James J. Kennedy III
James J. Kennedy III
Image: Jonathan "Tre" Dixon III
Jonathan "Tre" Dixon III
Image: Austin Marshall Eason
Austin Marshall Eason
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