Board Operations
The Board remained fully operational throughout the pandemic, continuing to support licensees and the public. In accordance with Governor Steve Sisolak's Emergency Directive 044, our office reopened to the public on June 1, 2021.
COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION
The State has issued a "vaccine playbook" detailing statewide vaccination plan and priorities, linked below, which identifies priority vaccine groups.
Local counties have established Tier systems for vaccine adminstration. If you are a provider and wondering where you fall, please visit your local county health department website. Linkes to Washoe & Clark are listed below. Please note that you may need to call the county to determine how you fit in these tiers depending on your work location and duties.
Clark: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-vaccine
STAY AT HOME 2.0 ~ NOVEMBER 11, 2020
Governor Sisolak announced on 11/11/2020 that Nevada will be entering a “Stay at Home 2.0” order for the next two weeks. Nevadans are asked to stay at home as much as possible during the two week period and avoid gatherings with people outside their households. Businesses are encouraged to allow employees to work virtually during this time, but if employees must be present in the office, they need to wear masks at all times, and meetings are encouraged to be held virtually. Local governments have been asked to step up enforcement measures over the next two weeks to make sure businesses are complying, which includes warnings, citations and potentially the removal of licenses.
Essential Operations/Procedures
The Board has not taken a position on essential business related to speech-language pathology, audiology and hearing aid dispensing. Please review the Governor’s Emergency Orders for the latest official declarations on essential services.
Licensing Extensions, Fee Reductions, & Requirement Waivers
Board operations have not been impacted and we are able to issue and renew licenses without limitations at this time. No changes have been made to fees, license requirements, or renewal timelines. The Board will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and may revisit these issues as needed.
Emergency Directive 024 - June 25, 2020 - Face Coverings
Please review the Governor's Emergency Directive 024 of June 25, 2020 which mandates that "Individuals not exempted by this Directive or guidance issued by the Nevada Health Response shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or face covering when in a public space, whether publicly owned or privately owned where the public has access by right or invitation, express or implied, whether by payment of money or not." (Section 5). The Directive further orders that "State licensing boards are hereby directed to enforce all provisions of this Directive against licensees and establishments with.in their purview and impose disciplinary measures against licensees who violate this Directive." (Section 8).
Telepractice
- For more information on providing telepractice services in Nevada, please refer to our NRS laws on telepractice.
- For more information on providing telepractice services outside Nevada, please refer to current state-by-state licensing guidance via ASHA's Guidance and Resources on Telepractice During COVID-19.
- For more information on Telepractice and HIPAA during COVID-19, please refer to guidance from the Office of Civil Rights on HIPAA, Civil Rights, and COVID-19
Business Reopening Guidance
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations Guidance on Business Reopening
OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (Scroll down webpage to Publications section)
Service and Safety Considerations During COVID-19, Including Aerosol-Generating Procedures
Please refer to the following for information on issues including, but not limited to:
- Job Classification of Audiologists: Essential/Non-Essential
- Job Classification of Health Care-Based SLPs during COVID-19: Essential/Non-Essential
- Prioritizing Patient Care
- Aerosol Generating Procedures
- Job Responsibilities Outside of Scope of Practice
- Limited Access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Return to Work After Exposure to COVID-19
ASHA Guidance on SLP Service Delivery Considerations in Health Care During Coronavirus/COVID-19
ASHA Guidance on Audiology Service Delivery Considerations in Health Care During COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
Thank you, take care, and stay well!