On March 26, 2020, as part of Florida’s response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and resulting state of emergency, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-85 (the Order), mandating insurance coverage for telehealth services and certain immunizations for state employees under the State Group Insurance Program (SGI). The State of Florida offers comprehensive insurance benefits through the SGI to eligible full-time or part-time state employees, retirees, spouses, and other dependents identified in subsection 110.123(2), Florida Statutes.
The Order goes into effect immediately, and directs the Department of Management Services, which administers the SGI, to make the following changes related to telehealth and immunization coverage:
The Order, which seeks to encourage vital employees to remain at home in order to contain the spread of the virus, is less comprehensive than those of other states that have issued orders expanding coverage for telehealth services during the emergency, such as Massachusetts. The Order is effective throughout the duration of the emergency period (until the expiration of Executive Order 20-52, or any extensions thereto).
For more information, please contact your Foley relationship partner or the Foley colleagues listed below. For additional web-based resources available to assist you in monitoring the spread of the coronavirus on a global basis, you may wish to visit the websites of the CDC and the World Health Organization.
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For more information on telemedicine, telehealth, virtual care, remote patient monitoring, digital health, and other health innovations, including the team, publications, and representative experience, visit Foley’s Telemedicine & Digital Health Industry Team Page.