[OBCE_Publication] Governor's and OBCE's Latest Update re: COVID-19 March 20, 2020

[BERINGER Kelly * BCE]

* Neither the Governor's Office, nor the OBCE, is ordering clinic closures at this time.  Please read the order closely to determine if the order applies to your practice and your use of PPE. *

Governor Brown's Executive Order 20-10

Governor Brown has issued Executive Order 20-10 (https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/executive_orders/eo_20-10.pdf) that conserves personal protective equipment (PPE), postpones non-urgent health care procedures, and restricts visitation. "Procedures" and "non-urgent procedures" apply to chiropractic care. The intent and purpose of this order is to conserve much needed PPE and to limit COVID-19 exposure for healthcare practitioners, patients, and the public.

Summary of the EO:

  *   The order limits all non-essential visitation at hospitals and other health care facilities. This provision is most applicable to chiropractic clinics and family members who accompany patients.

  *   No later than March 23, 2020, all elective and non-urgent procedures within all healthcare settings (which includes chiropractic clinics) that utilize PPE shall be cancelled or rescheduled no earlier than June 15, 2020. There are exemptions to this section but they do not apply to chiropractic care. (Italics added for emphasis.)

  *   All individuals and entities that in other, not healthcare related, industries that utilize PPE are strongly encouraged to cancel or postpone non-essential use of PPE.

  *   No later than March 27, 2020, any clinics with surplus PPE supplies shall notify the state's PPE coordinator by calling (971) 900-9952 and arrange for delivery of those surplus supplies to the coordinator. This section does not specifically name chiropractic clinics but it is the Board's desire that chiropractic clinics participate in this provision. Also, the Board requests that all practitioners or clinics that have extra gloves include them in their surplus PPE delivery.

Please continue to abide by all orders and recommendations made by Governor Brown, the Oregon Health Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control (links available on OBCE website: https://www.oregon.gov/obce). As a reminder, our rules allow for telehealth practice (https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=249280) and that should not involve any PPE. If you decide to close your clinic or to temporarily not practice, please email the OBCE offices with such information.

Temporary Rules

The Board determined to issue the following temporary rules, effective March 20, 2020 (Links to 811-010-0083 License Renewal Payment Plans (COVID-19)<https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=268770> and 811-015-0024 Continuing Education Requirements for First Year DC Licensees (COVID-19)<https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=268771>), in light of the difficulties and hardships that COVID-19 and its restrictions has created on licensees. In summary, the Board is allowing for DC and CA renewal fees to be postponed for 90 days for those experiencing financial hardship and who notify the Board of such. The Board is also allowing for the OTC and Evidence-Based Outcomes CE requirements for first year DC renewals to be postponed until the second year renewal.

Additionally, the Board will suspend its background check requirement for renewing licensees/certificate holders who are experiencing hardship obtaining fingerprint processing from local processing offices that are closed. Please notify the Board office of your circumstance.

NOTICE: False Advertising and Marketing

The Board will be aggressively pursuing advertising and marketing violations, including but not limited to those made online and within social media, and specifically to claims involving COVID-19/Corona Virus. If you, or any licensees you know of, are making claims that they or their clinic can "improve the outcomes of," "cure," "prevent," or in any other way effect patients with COVID-19/Corona Virus or their families, please notify the Board immediately for investigation and possible referral to the Attorney General. Not only are these claims possibly false or fraudulent, they put our public at grave risk.
__________________________________
Cassandra C. McLeod-Skinner, J.D.
Executive Director
Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners
530 Center St NE, Suite 620
Salem, OR  97301
O: 503-373-1620
C: 503-779-9038
E: cass.mcleod-skinner at oregon.gov<mailto:cass.mcleod-skinner at oregon.gov>
www.oregon.gov/obce<http://www.oregon.gov/obce>

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