Tag: Sarah Anthony

Completed State Budget Highlights Healthcare Champions

News Releases

The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

The passage of Michigan’s state budget highlights the healthcare champions in our state who protected important healthcare funding that maintains access to care for Michiganders and supports our healthcare workers, including our local nurses, doctors, support techs and service workers. Champions like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony and House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri are why Michigan hospitals can always care for their communities and advance our state forward.

We thank those state lawmakers who recognized the need to support the Healthy Michigan Plan and Michigan’s Medicaid health plans, obstetrical services, care at rural and critical access hospitals and more in this year’s budget.

Michiganders count on our hospitals to be there during our time of need, whether that be in the middle of the night or on a holiday, and on our state lawmakers to maintain access to healthcare. This state budget allows hospitals to continue to care for everyone who walks through their doors, at all hours of the day, every day of the year.

Healthcare Bills Advance in Michigan Legislature

Member News

Several healthcare-related bills advanced in the Michigan Legislature during the week of March 2, including proposals addressing medical debt, liability protections, organ donation incentives and workforce shortages.

The Senate Finance Committee advanced Senate Bills (SB) 701 and 702 on March 4. These bipartisan bills, sponsored by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater), aim to change medical debt collection processes in the state, including restrictions on the sale of medical debt and limits on interest, among other provisions. The MHA continues to review and remains committed to engaging with legislators on opportunities to improve healthcare affordability. The bills now proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.

Also on March 4, the House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill (HB) 4582, which would restore the “open and obvious” defense for lawsuits. Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd), the committee adopted a substitute that clarifies that property owners still have a duty to protect individuals from unreasonable harm. The MHA supports the legislation that moves to the full House for further consideration. 

The Senate Health Policy Committee unanimously approved SB 301 on March 4. Sponsored by Sen. Joe Bellino (R-Monroe), the MHA-supported legislation would provide a tax credit to employers whose employees take time off to serve as living organ donors. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

The House Health Policy Committee took testimony March 4 on HB 4832, sponsored by Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River). The legislation would create a state licensure process for anesthesiologist assistants to address state healthcare professional workforce shortages further. The MHA supports the legislation and encourages the committee to vote in favor of its passage.

Members with questions may contact the MHA advocacy team.

State Senate Advances Healthcare Legislation

Member News

Several bills impacting healthcare and hospitals were advanced through committees in the state Senate during the week of Oct. 14.

Senate Housing and Human Services voted out a package of legislation referred to as the ‘Momnibus.’ Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) and colleagues Sens. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) and Mai Xiong (D-Warren) introduced Senate Bills (SBs) 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823 and 825, as well as House Bill (HB) 5826, make alterations to state law to improve outcomes in maternal care. Specifically, these bills increase opportunities for addressing bias in patient care, prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy or lactation status, allow for appropriate information sharing with the Department of Health and Human Services, allow for loan repayment for certified nurse midwives and create the doula scholarship fund. The MHA secured amendments to the bills in committee to ensure that hospitals are trusted partners in this work and recognize hospitals’ commitment to addressing maternal health disparities. The bills were voted out of committee, with the MHA supporting SBs 818, 819, 820, 825 and HB 5826.

Additionally, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted out House Bill (HB) 4361 (Brabec), which creates a one-time individual income tax credit for organ donors. The $10,000 one-time credit can be used to cover expenses incurred from the live organ donation. Specifically, those expenses need to be non-reimbursed expenses that are directly related to the act of living organ donation including things like travel, lodging, lost wages or childcare. The MHA is supportive of HB 4361, which recognizes the costs incurred by organ donors.

Rep. Stephanie Young (D-Detroit) introduced HB 6025, the most recent legislation introduced among a series of bills highlighting the need to review the state’s guardianship system. HB 6025 alters the definition of “relative” for purposes of guardianship of a minor. This change could potentially increase opportunities for relatives, close kin, foster parents or those who are identified as having a special relationship with the minor to be selected as the guardian. Further, the legislation modifies when a minor’s guardian may request financial assistance. If enacted, a minor would have to reside with a relative guardian or foster parent for at least six months before an application for financial assistance. The guardianship process is complex and can be difficult to navigate. For those reasons the MHA has put together the Guide for Michigan’s Adult Guardianship Process to help all those who interact with the system find more success.

Members with questions on state legislation can contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.