Governor Holcomb signs COVID-19 Executive Order

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed Executive Order 21-24 on Wednesday, which outlines orders to help manage the spread of COVID-19.

The Executive Order will put in place the following measures to help hospital systems experiencing strain due to the increase in cases due to the Delta Variant:

• Health care systems will use evidence-based decisions to monitor patient capacity and staffing levels to assess whether non-emergent procedures should be delayed or reprioritized;
• Hospitals must report diversion information to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to assist with monitoring resources and capacity statewide.

The Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) will issue the following bulletins to assist health care systems:

• Extending prior authorizations for non-emergent procedures that are postponed due to capacity or staffing issues because of COVID-19;
• Directing insurers to enable hospitals to expedite the process of transporting patients out of hospital care to the next appropriate setting.

The IDOH will issue a COVID-19 control measure to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This measure will allow schools and day cares to modify quarantine provisions if they adhere to the following orders and guidance set by the IDOH:

• Schools and day cares that have mask requirements that are consistently followed throughout the day do not have to quarantine students, teachers and staff who are close contacts and aren’t showing symptoms of COVID-19;
• Schools and day cares must continue to contact trace by notifying their local health department as well as parents, teachers and staff who were in close contact.

This executive order will expire on September 30.