Tennessee’s official COVID emergency ends after 20 months. Here’s what that means.

Tennessee’s state of emergency, which has been in place for nearly 20 months because of the coronavirus, will be allowed to expire Friday night. Gov. Bill Lee says he’s not renewing it but would consider reinstating it if the state sees future surges.

The most recent emergency order, which was first signed Aug. 6, mostly gives flexibility to the health care industry. The order allowed for the following:

• Out-of-state doctors and nurses could practice in Tennessee without additional licensing
• Retirees had an easier way to reenter the workforce
• Practical nurses were allowed to work without supervision after graduation but before licensure
• Hospitals and psychiatric facilities could allow some duties to be performed by unlicensed staff, including students
• The National Guard could work within hospitals
• Staffing requirements were reduced for ambulances
• Nursing homes were allowed to be designated and paid for taking COVID-19 patients
• Hospitals could add beds without getting special permission
• Medical labs had more flexibility on telework
• Many facility inspections and licensure investigations were suspended

Some of the flexibility granted by the emergency order was welcomed by parts of the health care industry and resisted by others. For example, changing the limitations on what can be done by LPNs, registered nurses or nurse practitioners usually ends up being fiercely debated in the state legislature.

Gov. Lee says in his statement allowing the order to expire that he is “evaluating opportunities for permanent deregulation.”

Other states are also starting to allow their public health emergencies to expire. But some have said they aren’t ready. Indiana’s governor says he’s concerned about missing out on federal money. California’s governor has already extended through March 2022.

Gov. Lee has faced resistance from Republican lawmakers over use of executive powers, with one proposal that would have allowed the legislature to override the governor and end the public health emergency.