Governor Whitmer Extends, Modifies “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order

Governor Whitmer Extends, Modifies “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order
New Order Expires May 15th; Also, Effective April 26, 2020, at 11:59pm, Face Coverings Mandatory in Enclosed Public Spaces, Businesses Must Provide Non-Medical Grade Face Coverings to Workers

MAC/MCF “Protect the Line Initiative” Provides PPE to Chiropractors and Their Staffs – At No Charge!

At a press conference today, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-59, a revised version of her previous “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order. EO 2020-59 extends the stay-at-home order until May 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm, while lifting some restrictions on businesses and recreational outdoor activities.

Face Coverings in Enclosed Public Space
One new component of the Order requires, as of April 26, 2020 at 11:59 pm:

a) Any individual able to medically tolerate a face covering must wear a covering over his or her nose and mouth – such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief – when in any enclosed public space.

b) All businesses and operations whose workers perform in-person work must, at a minimum, provide non-medical grade face coverings to their workers.

This includes chiropractic offices. Since the beginning of this crisis and Governor Whitmer’s original “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, we have thought that this could be a possibility in order to re-open the economy. Our partnership with the Protect the Line Initiative, funded by our Michigan Chiropractic Foundation, is an important source in providing every chiropractor in the state and their staff members with personal protection equipment (PPE), including masks, face shields, and mask bands, at no charge. Click here for more information, including how you can get yours.

Until you can get your PPE from Protect the Line, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has shared ways to create your own face covering in a few easy steps, available here.

Can Chiropractors Stay Open?
While EO 2020-59 continues to prohibit in-person work that is not necessary to sustain or protect life, nothing in it changes what we have previously advised:

Chiropractic physicians are considered “Essential Critical Infrastructure workers in healthcare/public health.” It is the opinion of the MAC that you need to utilize your clinical judgment regarding what chiropractic care is necessary to follow this broad requirement (“sustain and protect life”). What care is needed to help keep patients from the dangers of going to emergency rooms because of pain and other serious issues, and/or away from dangerous opioids, is important for the doctor to determine. Also, since staffing levels are required to be “minimum necessary,” the doctor should seriously consider if a staff person is necessary for the provision of this care.
Your clinical judgment is key to how your care will keep patients safe and healthy.
The MAC continues to HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT DOCTORS WHO HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO REMAIN OPEN ARE FOLLOWING ALL SUGGESTED CDC PREVENTION AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (information is available on our website and will be forthcoming in the days ahead).
We highly recommend that you curtail all marketing initiatives regarding the provision of wellness care until further notice. We also highly recommend that you carefully document that your care is necessary to avoid someone going to the emergency room or using dangerous drugs and necessary to sustain or protect life.
You will also want to contact your malpractice carrier to be sure you are protected during this crisis.

What About My Massage Therapists?
The MAC has recommended that chiropractic practices not continue providing massage therapy services unless the chiropractor decides that it is necessary for the care of the patient under the broad directive of the recent Governor Order. We continue to highly suggest you seriously consider if massage is an essential service to help you “sustain or protect life.” We have been told by several malpractice carriers that you may not be covered if you continue to utilize massage therapists in your practice. Again, that’s not officially in a government order, but is our best recommendation.

As we are not a regulatory body, we do not have the authority to legally order you to stop providing massage therapy services; only the state and/or federal government does. However, at this time, we are HIGHLY RECOMMENDING that you immediately cease providing massage services during this pandemic, unless the chiropractor performs it him- or herself! Massage therapists will want to check with their regulating body (and their own malpractice carrier, if applicable) to determine if they should be practicing at this time.

Disclaimer: The Michigan Association of Chiropractors is a professional association advocating for the rights of chiropractors and their patients across the state of Michigan. We are NOT a state agency or regulatory body. We are merely informing our membership regarding what they are allowed to do during this difficult and confusing time.

The information we provide during this pandemic is derived in conjunction with our governmental relations and legal experts, developed after examination of all official releases of information from the State of Michigan and in consultation with said experts and representatives from state government. Please refer to our emails and website for the latest information, free from speculation and the rumors currently circulating in the wake of official state actions.

Rest assured that we will continue to advocate for the profession at the highest levels, with the health and well-being of you and your patients, as well as the overall stability of the health care system, foremost in our efforts.