The full Michigan House and Senate advanced their budget recommendations for the fiscal year 2023 budget beginning Oct. 1. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services budget bills, House Bill (HB) 5784 and Senate Bill (SB) 828, were reported to the opposite chambers for further consideration in the coming weeks. Both budget proposals protect hospital priorities, including maintaining funding for the Healthy Michigan Plan, graduate medical education, disproportionate share hospitals, the rural access pool and obstetrical stabilization fund, and critical access hospital rates.
In the House Judiciary Committee, further testimony was taken on legislation to help guide Michigan’s use of new funding from the $26 billion national opioid settlement. SBs 993, 994 and 995 would create a new restricted fund for the state to house the settlement dollars, establish a new advisory commission appointed by the Legislature and governor to oversee spending, and prohibit future civil lawsuits related to claims covered by this fund. There are identical versions of the bill currently making their way through the Senate as HBs 5968, 5969 and 5970. Either version of the bills could ultimately be sent to the governor’s desk for signature, and the MHA will continue to keep members informed on the legislation’s progress.
The full House of Representatives also voted to advance an MHA-supported bill related to out-of-state prescriptions. SB 166, introduced by Sen. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington), would allow pharmacies to fill noncontrolled substance prescriptions written by licensed, out-of-state physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses. There were technical changes made to the bill in the House, so another vote is needed in the Senate before the bill heads to the governor’s desk for signature.
Questions on these issues or other state legislation related to healthcare can be directed to Adam Carlson at the MHA.