<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585698373464.png" alt="Gov. Ricketts (podium, Nebraska Health Care Association President &amp; CEO Heath Boddy (right of Gov., and AARP’s Nebraska State Director Todd Stubbendieck (far left) at today’s briefing." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Ricketts (podium, Nebraska Health Care Association President &amp; CEO Heath Boddy (right of Gov., and AARP’s Nebraska State Director Todd Stubbendieck (far left) at today’s briefing.</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN –&nbsp;Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced a new executive order to give healthcare facilities greater flexibility to respond to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).&nbsp;The purpose of the order is to enable healthcare facilities to expand capacity as the need arises. &nbsp;Among other changes, the Governor’s order accomplishes the following:<ol>
 <li>Waives time limits for how long Critical Access Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers may keep patients.</li><li>Waives the time limit on complex nursing interventions in assisted living facilities.</li><li>Modifies the training and testing requirements for nurse aides, medication aides, and dining assistants to allow individuals with sufficient training and appropriate supervision to serve temporarily in these capacities.</li><li>Defers requirements for the renewal and implementation dates of facility licenses and extends the licenses so that they do not need to be renewed during this emergency.</li><li>Waives the Certificate of Need Act to allow hospitals to add or convert any beds into long-term care beds or rehabilitation beds in appropriate locations to care for COVID-19 patients who no longer require acute care support.&nbsp;</li><li>Waives the licensed bed limit if additional unlicensed beds are available or could be added for use in treating COVID-19 cases or to meet the needs of non-COVID-19 patients.</li><li>Directs the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish guidance for payment of Medicaid services via telehealth.</li>
 </ol>Read the executive order by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F3knv8h9q3yjpcdf%2FEO%252020-012%2520-%2520Relief%2520for%2520Hospitals%2520%2526%2520Health%2520Care%2520Facilities%2520and%2520Expanded%2520Use%2520of%2520Telehealth%2520Services%2520.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C4bd7e8eb44c743df01d708d7d5caf1a3%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212939922879179&amp;sdata=ctKCl63WSXTikCVWs%2BA%2FBF5DXCYFigceft%2FWOFB%2BUAs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.Additionally, the Governor noted that the federal government has waived both the 96-hour length-of-stay limit and the 25 bed limit for Critical Access Hospitals.At today’s press conference, Gov. Ricketts also announced new safety guidelines for nursing homes.&nbsp; They include:<ol>
 <li>Directing sick teammates to stay home.</li><li>Instructing facilities to plan for when influenza or COVID-19 may hit their facility.</li><li>Urging facilities to develop a contingency plan in the event that staff have to stay home.</li><li>Recommending that healthcare providers and residents wear masks when together in the same room.</li>
 </ol>The guidance is available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus" target="_blank">www.dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;Heath Boddy, President &amp; CEO of the Nebraska Health Care Association, joined the Governor at this afternoon’s press briefing. &nbsp;He said that the Governor’s executive order is extremely helpful for care facilities as they seek to maintain adequate staffing levels during the public health emergency.&nbsp; In addition, he talked about the heroic efforts of healthcare workers on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19.Todd Stubbendieck, Nebraska State Director for AARP, also took part in today’s news conference.&nbsp; He invited Nebraskans to visit AARP’s website for information on how older adults can reduce their likelihood of exposure to COVID-19 (<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aarp.org%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C4bd7e8eb44c743df01d708d7d5caf1a3%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212939922968784&amp;sdata=Oqz7XPF8hJH5DBuS49rH3B%2BrIIS%2BSk%2BmNK9RV9gVVUg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.aarp.org/coronavirus</a>). &nbsp;He reminded snowbirds to self-quarantine for 14 days, and to monitor their health, upon return to Nebraska.&nbsp; He also called on Nebraskans to lend a helping hand to the state’s senior citizens by checking on their well-being and offering to run errands for them.&nbsp;At the press briefing, Gov. Ricketts also announced an executive order that directs the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to suspend the issuance of non-resident turkey hunting licenses through May 31, 2020.&nbsp; The intent of the order is to reduce out-of-state travel to Nebraska during the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp; Read the executive order by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F59n1eppl1x8cwpc%2FEO%252020-11%2520-%2520COVID-19%2520-%2520Limiting%2520Non-Resident%2520Spring%2520Turkey%2520Hunting%2520Permits.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C4bd7e8eb44c743df01d708d7d5caf1a3%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212939922973763&amp;sdata=a%2BMjRGTCn7hblpVzpowSKVl5YUrfdOAbuX1kL4LIhu8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.The Governor also talked about his experience giving blood today at the State Teammate Blood Drive hosted in partnership with the American Red Cross. &nbsp;He urged Nebraskans to step up and donate in order to meet the urgent need for blood during the pandemic.&nbsp; Nebraskans interested in donating can visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redcross.org%2Fgive-blood.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C4bd7e8eb44c743df01d708d7d5caf1a3%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212939922978733&amp;sdata=Rl63%2BxcgPT4QJIm2qCMKXTwDJR%2BU7GVctOnnkVg8Ffg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.redcross.org/give-blood.html</a>&nbsp;for more information.Today, Husker football coach Scott Frost urged Nebraskans to comply with social distancing guidelines, to practice good hygiene, and to self-isolate if sick. &nbsp;View his public announcement by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fuio92oxgqkw2o6f%2FCoach%2520Scott%2520Frost%2520PSA_Nebraska%2520COVID_19.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C4bd7e8eb44c743df01d708d7d5caf1a3%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212939922983712&amp;sdata=grBgHOYcD1d2nH9bgpLxPPPe%2FvR4I0SAwgEq4o%2B4oMY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.Full video of today’s press briefing is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fcooavpbx7qnaoi4%2FPress%2520Conf%25203.31.2020.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ctaylor.gage%40nebraska.gov%7C4bd7e8eb44c743df01d708d7d5caf1a3%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637212939922988695&amp;sdata=FKRO472%2FaGpWCCvime6apD25%2BaRAciABR%2FlMSnKEi2I%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Gov. Ricketts gives healthcare facilities greater flexibility, announces safety guidelines for nursing homes