Baker-Polito Administration Announces
Federal Disaster Request and Other COVID-19
Response Efforts
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today
announced a new request to the federal government for a Major Disaster
Declaration, in addition to other actions to sustain the Commonwealth’s
response to COVID-19.
Major Disaster
Declaration Request: Governor
Baker today submitted a request to the federal government for a Major Disaster
Declaration for Massachusetts. If approved, this declaration would provide the
Commonwealth additional federal assistance beyond what was included in the
Emergency Declaration declared by President Trump on March 13, 2020. The
disaster declaration request includes a request for FEMA’s Public Assistance
Program, which would make financial assistance available to cities and towns,
state agencies, and certain non-profits statewide. The disaster declaration
request also requests FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program including Disaster
Unemployment Assistance and Crisis Counseling Assistance to help support
residents in need during this unprecedented incident.
New Public Health Orders: The Department of Public health has issued three emergency orders to
support the health care system’s response to COVID-19:
- Pharmacy Practice:
To ensure pharmacists are able to fully support the health care system’s
response to COVID-19, this emergency order makes several changes regarding
pharmacy practice, including expedited approval for pharmacists licensed
in other states to practice in Massachusetts, and allowing the remote
processing of prescriptions by pharmacy technicians. Read the Order
- Determination of Need:
This emergency order exempts health care
facilities from the requirement that they submit a Notice of Determination
of Need for certain activities that will support their response to
COVID-19. Read
the Order | Read the Guidance
- Nurse
Staffing: To ensure hospitals have the
flexibility they need to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, this emergency
order exempts hospitals from certain nurse-staffing requirements, while
requiring that they must ensure that staffing levels remain adequate to
meet patients’ needs, and staff is trained and competent to meet the needs
of their patients. Read the Order
Permit Order: Governor Baker today is issuing an
emergency order that provides that a permit will not expire or lapse during the
state of emergency for most permits issued by agencies within the Executive
Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Executive Office of Housing
and Economic Development. The order also pauses deadlines for these agencies to
decide or hold hearings on permit applications. The clock on those deadlines
will resume 45 days after the end of the emergency. It also ensures that no
permit is automatically issued because an agency is unable to make a decision
on a permit application during the emergency.
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