This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
June 25, 2020 — Today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order (GA-27) suspending elective surgeries at hospitals in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Travis counties. The order was issued to ensure hospital bed availability for COVID-19 patients.
The governor directs all hospitals in these counties to postpone all surgeries and procedures that are “not immediately, medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient who without immediate performance of the surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death, as determined by the patient’s physician; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to any surgery or procedure that, if performed in accordance with the commonly accepted standard of clinical practice, would not deplete any hospital capacity needed to cope with the COVID-19 disaster.”
Please note that the order seems to only address procedures performed in hospitals licensed under Chapter 241 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. It does not appear to address any procedures performed in a physician practice or in an ambulatory surgery center that is licensed under Chapter 243. This could change, and physicians are urged to follow any guidance that comes from the Texas Medical Board.
The governor’s order currently only covers four counties, but this could also change.
COVID-19 resources
This is a developing issue, and we encourage you to use the following resources to stay informed with the most up-to-date and reliable information:
- Texas Medical Association (TMA) COVID-19 Resource Center
- Texas Medical Board (TMB) COVID-19 page
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 resource page
- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) COVID-19 webpage
About the Author
More Content by Laura Hale Brockway
