Tag: HB 4103

Opioid Legislation, IMLC and Compact Bills Advance in Senate, House

Member News

The Senate Health Policy Committee voted in support of legislation related to treating patients with opioid use disorder, while the House Health Policy advanced the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) bill during the week of June 23.

Senate Bills (SB) 397–405 were voted out of the Senate Health Policy Committee with recommendation to the full Senate chamber. Collectively, these bills make numerous changes to improve coverage and access for Michiganders to receive treatment for opioid use disorders.

Additionally, the Senate Health Policy Committee heard testimony on House Bills (HB) 4103–4104, sponsored by Reps. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) and Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township), which would add Michigan into the occupational therapist licensure compact agreement. HBs 4101 and 4380, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar), was also considered by the committee and would add Michigan into the physical therapist licensure compact. Also, the committee advanced SBs 414–415, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Groveland Township), which would require insurer and Medicaid coverage of group prenatal services. The MHA supports HBs 4103-4104, 4101, 4380, and SBs 414-415.

SB 303, sponsored by Sen. Roger Hauck (R-Mount Pleasant), renews Michigan’s agreement in the interstate medical licensure compact was unanimously voted through by the House Health Policy Committee. The bill now moves to the House Rules Committee for further consideration. The committee also heard testimony on HB 4509, sponsored by Rep. Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville), which adds Michigan to the audiologist and speech-language pathologist licensure compact. HB 4591, sponsored by Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton), similarly adds Michigan to the professional counselor licensure compact. The MHA also supports SB 303, HB 4509 and HB 4591, and looks forward to their continued movement in the legislature.

Members with additional questions should contact the MHA Advocacy Team.

MHA Member Provides Testimony to House Health Policy Committee; Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Bills Clear Committee

Member News

The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony from stakeholders on legislation to establish a Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact in the state and Occupational Therapy (OT) Licensure Compact bills were voted to the House floor during the week of April 14.

Mandy Shelast, president, Marshfield Medical Center- Dickinson provided testimony on zoom in support of the PA Licensure Compact.

House Bill (HB) 4309, sponsored by Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River), would add Michigan into the PA Licensure Compact, which is an interstate licensure compact allowing PAs to practice in other states participating within the compact. Other states that belong to the compact include Ohio, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Minnesota, Virginia, Delaware, Tennessee, Maine, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, Montana and Washington. MHA member Mandy Shelast, president, Marshfield Medical Center- Dickinson, provided testimony in support of the legislation and shared how the compact would address specific logistical barriers in access to care at her facility in the Upper Peninsula.

HB 4103, sponsored by Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) and HB 4104, sponsored by Rep. Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township), were reported with recommendation to the House floor. These MHA supported bills create a licensure compact agreement for occupational therapists in the state. The MHA looks forward to continued movement on these bills that seek to improve workforce development and access to care.

Members with additional questions may reach out to Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.

Senate Hears MHA Testimony on Medicaid; Licensure Compact House Bills Advance

Member News

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) heard testimony from the MHA on Medicaid funding and various licensure compact bills advanced in the House during the week of March 17.

The MHA provided testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee of the DHHS in regard to recent federal funding threats to Medicaid. Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA, shared how recent federal proposals could be devastating to patients, providers, hospitals and communities while leaving the state responsible for several billion dollars’ worth of funding. Carlson noted that Michigan Medicaid is the single largest payer for long-term care, maternity care and mental health services. Dr. Phillip Rogers, chair of Family Medicine at Michigan Medicine, further illustrated the importance of the program by sharing powerful patient stories. The MHA will continue to collaborate with lawmakers on this issue and oppose any efforts at the federal level that threaten Medicaid funding.

A number of bills related to licensure compact agreements advanced in the state House. House Bill (HB) 4101, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar), and HB 4102, sponsored by Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), received testimony in the House Health Policy Committee on March 19.

The bills, collectively, create a licensure compact agreement for physical therapists in the state of Michigan. In addition to this, HB 4103, sponsored by Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), and HB 4104, sponsored by Rep. Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township), also were part of the committee hearing. Similarly, these bills create a licensure compact agreement for occupational therapists in the state. Finally, HB 4246 was introduced by Rep. Phil Green (R-Millington) and referred to the House Health Policy Committee. This legislation creates the interstate nurse licensure compact to help strengthen our workforce and enhances patients’ access to care. The MHA supports the aforementioned bills and looks forward to further action.

Members with additional questions may reach out to Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.