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New executive order temporarily allows physician assistants, nurses to treat COVID-19 patients

Posted at 4:34 AM, Mar 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-30 08:15:12-04

(WXYZ) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order that relaxes practice laws, temporarily allowing physician assistants and nurses to treat COVID-19 patients.

The order also reinforces an existing law that protects hospitals and healthcare workers from liability for taking steps to protect patients during an emergency.

“Michigan’s dedicated health care professionals continue putting their lives on the line every day during this unprecedented crisis, and we must do everything we can to empower them to do their jobs,” Whitmer said in a press release.

“This executive order temporarily sets aside some existing rules to allow qualified physician assistants, nurses and other health care providers to treat COVID-19 patients and help slow the spread of this virus in every corner of our state.”

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