The MHA defeated legislation that would have established government-mandated nurse staffing ratios and legislation that would have made detrimental revisions to Michigan’s strong medical liability laws during the week of Dec. 16. The MHA opposed these policies during the entire legislative session. The end of legislative business puts an end to all pending bills for this legislative session.
Late in the term, the House passed legislation restricting mandatory overtime policies for registered nurses. HB 5999 would have prohibited mandatory hospital overtime policies in certain circumstances. The Senate did not take any action on HB 5999 and the bill will expire with the end of legislative business.
This means none of the bills originally introduced in May 2023 that would have instituted government-mandated nurse staffing ratios and added additional requirements to hospitals are eligible to be signed into law.
In addition, neither chamber acted on bills designed to dramatically alter Michigan’s medical liability laws by significantly raising the caps on noneconomic damages, as well as reinstituting and expanding wage loss awards. These changes would undo tort reforms hospitals championed in the 1990s, leading to increased healthcare costs and hindered physician recruitment and retention in Michigan.
The lack of action on any of these bills is a testament to the advocacy work of the MHA and its membership.
Contention among lawmakers from both parties in the House reduced session attendance on multiple occasions over the last two weeks, resulting in both extreme chaos and little legislative work. The political infighting and inability to garner a quorum prevented any further movement on Senate Bill 1179, a bill to safeguard the 340B drug pricing program. SB 1179 would have protected cost savings from manufacturer encroachment and preserved access to affordable healthcare services in both urban and rural Michigan communities. The MHA will pursue this legislation again in the new legislative session at the beginning of 2025, recognizing the strong bipartisan support it received in the Senate when it passed with a 30-3 vote.
Several other bills the MHA pursued this session will need reintroduction in the 2025-26 session:
- HB 5964 – Continues the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which is scheduled for repeal in March 2025.
- HB 5833 – Allows surrogate consent for medical decisions.
- HB 4833 – Eliminating duplicate licensure requirements for hospitals.
- SB 802 – Creates information sharing regarding outpatient behavioral health services.
The MHA opposed legislation that would allow local units of government to establish their own ordinances governing minimum wage, working hours and staffing ratios, and a bill to subject hospitals to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. All this legislation expires with the expected ending of the 102nd Legislature.
Members with questions on legislative activity may contact Laura Appel at the MHA.