Several healthcare bills, including mandatory nurse overtime, medical debt collections, prescribed pediatric extended care facilities and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) budget, saw action in the legislature during the week of April 13.
The Michigan Senate voted in support of Senate Bills (SBs) 296 and 297, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), on April 15. This legislation would prohibit hospitals from using mandated overtime for registered nurses in certain circumstances. While the MHA does not support legislation that curtails hospital leaders’ decision-making authority, the MHA worked with bill sponsors and the Michigan Nurses Association to secure key amendments to provide hospitals time to implement potential changes, address extenuating circumstances and provide flexibility to nurses, while keeping patient access at the forefront. The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony on SB 449, 450 and 451, as well as House Bills (HB) 5254 and 5255. The bipartisan three-bill Senate package codifies the existence of hospital financial assistance programs (FAPs), creates new reporting requirements on the benefits provided by FAPs and prohibits medical debt from being reported by credit bureaus. The bills, sponsored by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater), would:
- Require hospitals to develop and implement a FAP that provides up to a 100% discount based on a sliding scale for an uninsured patient whose annual income is at or below 350% of the federal poverty guidelines. The FAP must also apply to patients who owe the hospital an unpaid bill equal to or greater than 30% of their annual income.
- Require hospitals to post information about the FAP on bills, invoices and the hospital website.
- Require hospitals to submit an annual report to the MDHHS stating the number of applications to the hospital’s FAP and the benefits provided by the FAP each year.
- Require the state to create a process allowing hospitals to check patient income eligibility.
- Prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt in consumer credit reports.
HBs 5254 and 5255, sponsored by Reps. Angela Rigas (R-Alto) and Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), aim to change medical debt collection processes in the state, including restrictions on the sale of medical debt and on interest rates. The MHA maintains a neutral position on SBs 449-451.
The House Health Policy Committee also voted unanimously in support of HBs 5251 and 5252, which provide for the licensing and Medicaid coverage of prescribed pediatric extended care facilities. These facilities would allow specialized care for pediatric patients with complex medical conditions. The MHA continues to review this legislation.
Lastly, HB 5607, which funds the Medicaid and behavioral health portions of the MDHHS for fiscal year 2026-27, was reviewed and approved by its House Appropriations subcommittees on April 16. The bill supports important healthcare measures, including:
- Full funding for Medicaid.
- Recognition of hospital provider taxes and the ability to access those funds without additional legislative action or administrative barriers.
- Specialty Network Access Fee funding.
- Support for rural and obstetrics stabilization pools.
- Funding for Maternal Levels of Care verification.
- $22 million and additional state employees to implement Medicaid work reporting requirements as required by H.R. 1.
- Language encouraging the state to allocate Rural Health Transformation funds in a timely manner.
The budget proposal also calls for $300 million in unspecified Medicaid savings. The bill now goes to the full House Appropriations Committee for its consideration. The MHA will continue to work with lawmakers to pass a state budget that fully supports Michigan hospitals, healthcare workers and patients.
Members with questions may contact the MHA advocacy team.