SamaGong,

This is not a hypothetical situation. This is an order authorizing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to take control of the ability of facilities to accept new patients but also allows CDPHE to force facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, to accept patients that they ordinarily would be able to refuse.

This is moderately draconian, but is a forward thinking approach so that Colorado does not replicate New York City 2020 where the hospitals in the Bronx were crushed while many in Manhattan and Westchester county apparently refused to accept any Covid patients.

Anyone every here of Montefiore (Bronx) and some guy named Harish Seethamraju.

Governor Polis' order:

I authorize CDPHE to determine whether a hospital or freestanding emergency department is at, or reasonably anticipated to reach, capacity.

CDPHE is then authorized to take the following actions, as necessary:

1. Direct the hospital or freestanding emergency department to cease admitting patients and direct any persons thereafter seeking treatment to another hospital or facility designated by CDPHE;

2. Direct the transfer of patients from the hospital or freestanding emergency department to another hospital, skilled nursing facility, dormitory, alternative care facility, or other facility designated by CDPHE. CDPHE may direct the transfer of patients without first obtaining the patient’s written or informed consent to such a transfer;

and

3. Direct a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or other facility to accept patients transferred from a hospital or freestanding emergency department pursuant to this Order.

The full order is available here on a google drive.

https://doc-0o-40-prod-02-apps-viewer.googleu...21o81uign8