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Florida State Surgeon General’s Emergency Order 20-011 Continues to Allow Out-of-State Practitioners to Offer Telehealth Services to Persons in Florida

telemedicine extensionBy: Susan St. John

On June 30, 2020, State Surgeon General, Scott A. Rivkees, M.D., issued Emergency Order (“EO”) 20-011, which further extends EO 20-002 until the expiration of the Governor’s Executive Order No. 20-52, or any extensions thereof. Thus, EO 20-011 continues to allow out-of-state MDs, DOs, APRNs and PAs, to offer telehealth services to persons in Florida.

EO 20-011 continues to allow Florida licensed controlled substance prescribers (MDs, DOs, APRNs, PAs) to issue renewal prescriptions of controlled substances for non-malignant pain for existing patients. Additionally, EO 20-011 extends a qualified physician’s ability to recertify an existing qualified and certified patient’s continued use of medical marijuana using telehealth services. These further extensions are also tied to the expiration of Executive Order 20-52 and any extension thereof.

EO 20-003, which allows for out-of-state clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and psychologists to render telehealth services to persons in Florida, is still in effect as it is set to expire simultaneously with Executive Order 20-52, or any extension thereof.

Executive Order 20-52 was extended by Executive Order 20-114 and extended again pursuant to Executive Order 20-166. Executive Order 20-52, as extended by Executive Order 20-114, and further extended by Executive Order 20-166 is now set to expire 60 days from July 7, 2020, or September 5, 2020.

Telehealth services must still be provided using two-way audio and video communications. Audio-only telephone calls are not permitted under Florida’s existing telehealth statute and have not been waived or suspended via the State Surgeon General’s Orders.

To review the State Surgeon General’s Emergency Order 20-011 and the Governor’s Executive Order 20-166 click here and here.