Tag: LARA

LARA Background Check Requirements to Impact Hospice Licensing

Member News

The MHA has been working with the Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association to raise awareness of upcoming enforcement by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) related to background check and fingerprinting requirements. Implementation is expected later this year, with the exact date to be determined.

Michigan hospice facilities are licensed by site, which means staff must be fingerprinted and registered with LARA under each specific hospice license. This may affect employees who are listed under a hospital license instead of a hospice license, or if an individual works at multiple hospice locations but are only registered at one.

Key Considerations

  1. All employees working in a hospice program, including part-time, float and PRN staff, must be listed under the hospice license and affiliated with each individual hospice site if more than one site is operated. Organizations may also list employees under a hospital license; however, they must be listed under the hospice license.
    • Per LARA, state and federal fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are required for employees, independent contractors and individuals granted clinical privileges who have direct access to patients or residents and are under the facility’s control. “Direct access” includes access to a resident or resident’s property, financial information, medical records, treatment information or other identifying information.
  2. Staff already listed on the hospice license require no further action. Staff not listed on the hospice license have two options:
    1. If hired within the last year, background check and fingerprinting results may be shared with the hospice agency.
    2. If hired more than one year ago, a new background check and fingerprinting must be completed, as results cannot be shared across entities after one year.

At this time, hospice residences cannot comply with this requirement, as they are not yet established in LARA’s system. LARA recommends following the steps above and completing background checks and fingerprinting under the hospice agency license. Once hospice residences are established in the system, those results may be shared.

Feedback Requested

Organizations holding a hospice license are encouraged to complete a brief survey. Feedback will help inform support efforts to ensure staff complete required background checks and maintain compliance.

Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.

LARA to Host Webinar on Proposed Psychiatric Hospital Licensing Rule Changes

Member News

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), through its Bureau of Community Health Systems (BCHS), will host a webinar from 3 to 3:30 p.m., May 7, to review proposed updates to administrative rules for licensing psychiatric hospitals and units. The proposed changes would replace the current rule set and may affect impacted providers.

The webinar will provide an overview of the proposed administrative rules. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the informal draft of the Licensing Psychiatric Hospitals and Units administrative rules before the session.

The BCHS webinar is open to organizations and individuals impacted by psychiatric hospitals and unit licensing requirements. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with the option to add the event to their calendar. The MHA encourages members from psychiatric hospitals and units to join.

Members with questions may contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report March 30, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

Governor Whitmer Signs Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Bill

Gov. Whitmer signed House Bill 5455, now Public Act 6 of 2026, into law March 26. This came ahead of the deadline for the state to continue participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact without …

Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Data Reporting Period Opens May 1

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, signed into law Feb. 3, includes updates to the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act. These updates include a data …

MDHHS Finalizes Medicaid Policy Updates to Mental Health Framework

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently finalized Medicaid policy updates to the Michigan Mental Health Framework. It reflects several changes from the proposed version related to assessment use, timing and provider eligibility. …

Continuum of Care Consortium Seeks Member Participation

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Survey and Certification is organizing a Continuum of Care Consortium. This group is designed to bring together hospital and long-term care providers …

Stryker Issues Cyber Incident Response Certification Letter

Following a recent cyberattack at Stryker Corporation, the company issued a Stryker Cyber Incident Response Certification Letter on March 16 to update its customers on the ongoing situation. The letter includes information on product safety, communication with Stryker sales …

Hospitals Help: McLaren Launches AI Tool to Identify Heart Disease Risk Sooner

Michigan hospitals are finding innovative ways to improve patient outcomes and remove barriers to timely care. One example of this comes from McLaren Health Care and its McLaren Heart & Vascular Institute, who recently launched …

Keckley Report

It’s March Madness for Hospitals

“Hospitals represent 31% of total health spending in the U.S. They directly employ 52% of the nation’s 1.1 million physicians and 44% of the 18 million in the healthcare workforce. Many operate ‘related’ businesses including insurance companies, nursing home and long-term care services, fitness facilities and some are investors in private equity funds and joint ventures pursuing innovations in care delivery and more. …

For hospitals, this is March Madness! Strategies to manage demand, reduce costs and leverage favorable operating margins (enjoyed by some) need refreshing because the environment has fundamentally changed. Governing boards and C suites in hospitals face some tough questions about how, and how fast their environment will change. The Big C’s (Costs, Corporatization, Competition, Compliance, Capital, Coverage) are a useful place to start…

These are not comprehensive but they’re directionally accurate: the future for hospitals is not a repeat of the past. The market has fundamentally changed.

The blame and shame game played by the industry’s major sectors—hospitals, insurers, drug companies—has not made life better for the citizens it serves. The public’s asking for something better, and elected officials are on their side.

March Madness is reality for hospitals. It requires fresh thinking and uncomfortable adjustments. It’s not optional.”

Paul Keckley, March 22, 2026

New to KnowNews to Know

The MHA membership will convene in person for the MHA Annual Membership Meeting June 24–26. The annual meeting will feature an outstanding lineup of experts discussing key topics, including public perception and affordability. Members are encouraged to register by …

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage during the week of March 23 on key issues affecting access to care and the healthcare workforce. MLive, Gongwer and the Michigan Advance reported on the bipartisan agreement to extend …

Continuum of Care Consortium Seeks Member Participation

Member News

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Survey and Certification (BSC) is organizing a Continuum of Care Consortium. This group is designed to bring together hospital and long-term care (LTC) providers for collaborative dialogue focused on challenges in care transitions. Additional topics will include improving discharges to skilled nursing facilities, hospital admissions, code status, multidrug-resistant organisms, medication management and other barriers surrounding the continuum of care.

BSC and LARA’s Bureau of Community and Health Systems will serve as facilitators and provide regulatory guidance as needed. Additional participants will include LTC association leads, the Superior Health Quality Alliance and representatives from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, including the State Medicaid Agency and Office of Recipient Rights, on an ad hoc basis.

The group will meet quarterly for 90 minutes. MHA members interested in participating should contact Jennie Belden at BSC.

This is a great opportunity for hospital leaders, case managers and those responsible for care transitions to engage directly with state agencies and LTC partners to develop practical solutions to longstanding care transition challenges.

Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.

Key Findings from the Michigan Interpreter Needs Assessment Report

Member News

Understanding the critical role interpreters play in hospitals, the MHA Health Foundation recently contributed funding to support the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) in conducting a needs assessment of Michigan’s interpreter landscape.

Through a partnership with Innivee Strategies, LARA’s assessment focused on understanding current challenges and identifying solutions to make the state’s interpreter system more equitable, responsive and sustainable. Key findings, include:

  • Interpreters cited the state certification infrastructure, education and challenges with workforce entry/advancement as barriers within the profession, as well as a lack of professional development opportunities, compensation and unregulated hiring practices.
  • Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) individuals stressed the overuse of video remote interpreting services, rural service area gaps and a lack of accountability and enforcement from the state as barriers to care.
  • Western and Northern Michigan were identified as interpreter “service desserts,” which has resulted in delayed or denied services, limited community engagement and gaps in healthcare, education, legal and everyday life contexts.
  • There is a shortage of interpreters that are qualified and specialized. Interpreters with more experience are more likely to have the advanced skills and credentials needed for high-risk environments. However, given the shrinking workforce, there is concern that institutional knowledge will be lost, leaving a gap in specialized skills.
  • Training for interpreters to work in healthcare settings was identified as the highest need, as DDBHH individuals indicated that this was the environment where these services are most frequently used.

Findings from the assessment drive home that a strong interpreter environment requires regulatory infrastructure, accountability and sustainable workforce development to best serve DDBHH patients and communities. The LARA intends to use these findings to inform improvements in access to interpreter services across the state.

Members with questions should contact Lauren LaPine-Ray at the MHA.

DIFS Releases Bulletin Protecting COVID-19 Vaccinations

Member News

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) issued a bulletin on Oct. 16 advising health insurers in the individual and small group markets to continue covering COVID-19 vaccinations without cost-sharing.

The bulletin was released in accordance with Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Directive 2025-7. The executive directive instructs the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, DIFS and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to work collaboratively to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available to all Michiganders.

The DIFS bulletin states that under existing state law, all insurers in the individual and small group market must cover immunizations recommended by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP continues to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine as of Oct. 16.

Members with questions regarding the bulletin should contact Megan Blue at the MHA.

MHA Releases Executive Summary of Final LARA Rules for Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery

Member News

The MHA recently released an executive summary regarding administrative rules finalized by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), updating licensing and practice standards for osteopathic medicine and surgery in Michigan. The rules, issued through the Bureau of Professional Licensing, took effect May 8, 2025.

These updates align licensing requirements with evolving accreditation standards and aim to modernize healthcare regulation, reduce barriers to practice and uphold patient safety.

Key changes addressed in the summary include:

  • Delegation of Certain Procedures: Removes the prohibition on delegating medications or devices intended to cause miscarriage or fetal death in a pregnant patient.
  • COMLEX-USA Exam Attempt Limits: Reduces the maximum number of exam attempts per level from six to four.
  • Removal of Seven-Year Completion Rule: Eliminates the requirement to complete all levels of the licensing exam within seven years of passing the first.
  • Continuing Education Waiver Clarification: Provides new guidance on when and how licensees may request continuing education waivers.
  • Implicit Bias Training Eligibility: Allows implicit bias training under Rule 338.7004 to count toward continuing education requirements.
  • Expanded CE Provider Options: Permits non-Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)-accredited programs to qualify if offered in partnership with an ACCME-accredited organization.

Members are encouraged to review the summary and share it with relevant clinical and credentialing staff. For questions, please contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.

Senate Health Policy Holds Testimony on Opioid Legislation

Member News

The Senate Health Policy Committee held testimony on legislation related to treating patients with opioid use disorder during the week of June 16.

Collectively, Senate Bills (SB) 397–405 make numerous changes to improve coverage and access for Michiganders to receive treatment for opioid use disorder. SBs 397, 400, 401, 402 and 403 specifically apply commercial insurer and Medicaid coverage modifications to reduce delays and remove additional barriers in prescribing opioid-related treatment and dosages.

SB 398 modifies opioid treatment program requirements under the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, while SBs 404–405 would require nurses to carry naloxone in select schools. Lastly, SB 399 amends the Public Health Code to specify that the term “drug paraphernalia” does not include testing products.

The MHA-supported bills now await a final vote in the Senate Health Policy Committee before moving to the full Senate chamber. The MHA Behavioral Health Integration Council reviewed and recommended changes for SBs 397, 398, 399, 400 and 402.

Members with additional questions should contact the MHA Advocacy Team.

MHA Monday Report May 19, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

Healthcare Legislation Advances in House, Senate

Numerous healthcare bills including the Nurse Licensure Compact, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) budget advanced in the Michigan Legislature during the week of May 12. …

Legislative Policy Panel Acts on Advocacy Priorities for Michigan Hospitals

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met May 14 at the MHA Capital Advocacy Center to develop recommendations for the MHA Board of Trustees on legislative initiatives impacting Michigan hospitals. MHA Capitol Advocacy Center staff provided …

Healthcare Makes $100+ Billion Impact to Michigan’s Economy

The MHA published results from the 2025 Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report as part of National Hospital Week (May 11-17), demonstrating a $106 billion total economic impact healthcare had in fiscal year 2023, the most recent data available. …

Deadline Approaching to Register for MHA Annual Membership Meeting

The deadline to register for the 2025 MHA Annual Membership Meeting is Friday, May 23. The event will be held June 25 through 27 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The annual meeting offers …

LARA Finalizes Osteopathic Licensing and Practice Rules

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) recently finalized administrative rules that update licensing and practice standards for osteopathic medicine and surgery in Michigan, effective May 8, 2025. The revised rules, issued through the …

Members Discuss Cyberattack Preparedness in MHA Virtual Forum

More than 80 information systems, clinical and administrative leaders joined the MHA’s virtual member forum May 9 to discuss strategies for preparing for and responding to cyberattacks. Leaders shared insights and lessons learned from real-world …

MDHHS Updates MMR Vaccine Guidance Amid Measles Outbreaks

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated guidance May 9 on the administration and reimbursement of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The bulletin outlines how providers may administer and receive …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Outlines Fundraising as a Growth Strategy

The May edition of Trustee Insights, a monthly digital publication from the American Hospital Association, explores how fundraising can serve as a low-risk growth strategy for hospitals and health systems. One article focuses on the …

Nurses Share Insights on Balance, Technology and the Future of the Profession in New Survey

The MHA has endorsed AMN Healthcare as a national leader in workforce solutions. AMN Healthcare’s 2025 Survey of Registered Nurses measures the insights and direction of the nursing profession using responses from more than 12,000 nurses. MHA …

The Reality for Medicaid Patients Entering the ED With a Behavioral Health Crisis

Imagine this: You enter a hospital emergency department for chest pain. The clinicians onsite confirm you’re having a heart attack, but before can receive lifesaving care, you must wait for a second pre-admission screening from an agency outside of the hospital. …

Keckley Report

The Value-based Care Agenda in Trump 2.0 Healthcare

“Central to both efforts is the administration’s mandate to reduce federal spending which it deems achievable, in part, by replacing fee for services with value-based payments to providers from the government’s Medicare and Medicaid programs. The CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is the government’s primary vehicle to test and implement alternative payment programs that reduce federal spending and improve the quality and effectiveness of services simultaneously. ….

Recent efforts by the Trump Healthcare 2.0 team and its leadership appointments in CMS and CMMI point to a value-agenda will change significantly. Alternative payment models will be fewer and participation by provider groups will be mandated for several. Measures of quality and savings will be fewer, more easily measured and and standardized across more episodes of care. Financial risks and shared savings will be higher and regulatory compliance will be simplified in tandem with restructuring in HHS, CMS and CMMI to improve responsiveness and consistency across federal agencies and programs. …

Trump Healthcare 2.0 value-based care is a take-no prisoners strategy in which private insurers in Medicare Advantage have a seat at their table alongside hospitals that sponsor ACOs and distribute the majority of shared savings to the practicing physicians. But the agenda will be set, and re-set by the administration and link-minded physician organizations like America’s Physician Groups and others that welcome financial risk-sharing with Medicare and beyond.”

Paul Keckley, May 12, 2025

New to KnowNews to Know

MHA Endorsed Business Partner Medical Solutions, will host the free webinar Workforce Wellness: Effective Approaches to Foster Well-being and Retention in Healthcare from 1 to 2 p.m. ET May 19.

MHA in the News

Laura Appel

The MHA received news coverage during the week of May 12 related to federal Medicaid funding cuts and the release of the hospital economic and workforce impact data. …

LARA Finalizes Osteopathic Licensing and Practice Rules

Member News

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) recently finalized administrative rules that update licensing and practice standards for osteopathic medicine and surgery in Michigan, effective May 8, 2025.

The revised rules, issued through the Bureau of Professional Licensing, reflect changes to licensing exams, continuing education and scope of practice, aligning with evolving accreditation standards. Physicians and license applicants are encouraged to review the updates to ensure compliance.

Key changes include:

  • Delegation of Certain Procedures: The updated rules remove the ban on delegating medications or devices intended to cause miscarriage or fetal death in a pregnant patient.
  • COMLEX-USA Exam Attempt Limits: The maximum number of attempts per level on the licensing exam is now four, reduced from six.
  • Removal of Seven-Year Completion Rule: Applicants are no longer required to complete all exam levels within seven years of passing the first.
  • Continuing Education Waiver Clarification: New guidance is provided on when and how licensees may request waivers.
  • Implicit Bias Training Eligibility: Implicit bias training under Rule 338.7004 may now count toward continuing education requirements.
  • Expanded CE Provider Options: Non-ACCME-accredited education programs may qualify if partnered with an ACCME-accredited organization.

These revisions are part of Michigan’s efforts to modernize healthcare regulation, reduce barriers to practice and uphold public safety.

The MHA is preparing an executive summary of the rule changes to share with members in the coming weeks.

Members with questions may contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.