Governor Mandates Compliance with PPE Shortage Order 

Today, Governor Reynolds announced the release of a PPE Shortage Order to cope with the increasing demand of PPE in the state of Iowa. The PPE Shortage Order is an acknowledgement that at both the state and national level, there are shortages of PPE. The order is meant for guidance to providers for what to do if they cannot acquire PPE on their campus.

All providers are directed to comply with the PPE Order immediately.  The Order covers all Iowa health care providers, hospitals, health care facilities, clinics, local public health agencies, medical and response organizations, and any other person or facility utilizing PPE in the care or treatment of a patient or resident.  Providers are immediately instructed to inform all staff of the conditions of this Order and prominently post this Order in locations where PPE is utilized.

The Order includes specific guidance on decreasing demand and maximizing use of PPE.  It provides specific guidance for extending the use of PPE and crisis standards for PPE if demand exceeds supply.  Again, all providers shall read, comply, educate staff, and post this Order. 

In addition to addressing PPE, the Order invokes Iowa Code §135.147 granting legal immunity to providers. Specifically, “A health care provider, hospital, health care facility, and any other person, corporation, or other legal entity or employee of all such entities acting in compliance with this Order, or other guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to optimizing PPE supply, in good faith is acting at the request of and under the direction of the Iowa Department of Public Health for purposes of the immunity provisions of Iowa Code section 135.147.”

LAI applauds the Governor for taking the proactive steps to protect Iowa’s providers dealing with the Public Health Disaster.