Tag: Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet

MHA Member Testifies on Healthcare Legislation, Staffing Agency Bill Introduced

Member News
Andrew Daniels, president and CEO, Hills and Dales Hospital, testified April 25 in the House Health Policy Committee on legislation removing timelines on disposal of sharps containers.

Hills and Dales Hospital President and CEO Andrew Daniels testified April 25 in the House Health Policy Committee on legislation removing timelines on disposal of sharps containers. Senate Bill (SB) 482, which was initiated by the MHA following member feedback, alters current requirements on sharps container disposal that result in increased costs and contribute to unnecessary medical waste.

Sponsored by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), the bill removes the current requirement that sharps containers be disposed of every 90 days and instead aligns Michigan with national standards allowing for sharps containers to remain in use until they are filled to the ¾ mark. The removal of the 90-day timeline will allow for extended life of underutilized containers, reduce costs for hospitals and reduce waste of empty or near empty containers. The MHA supports this legislation.

Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw) also introduced legislation to license and regulate temporary healthcare staffing agencies offering services in Michigan. The legislation would require licensure with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and require those agencies to ensure proper staff licensure and recordkeeping. Additionally, it would prohibit those agencies from prohibiting temporary staff from taking full time assignments at healthcare facilities and limit the profits of those agencies to no more than 25% of the current market rate. The MHA supported legislation was referred to the House Health Policy Committee.

Members with questions should contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.

Protections for Healthcare Workers, Auto No-fault Bills Move in Michigan Legislature

Member News
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Multiple bills monitored by the MHA moved in the Michigan Legislature during the week of Oct. 16.

Legislation increasing penalties for violence committed against healthcare workers was unanimously voted out of the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee. The MHA-supported bills increase fines for assaulting a healthcare professional or volunteer, doubling the current fines for assault and assault with a deadly weapon. House Bills (HBs) 4520 and 4521 were introduced by Reps. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) and Mike Mueller (R-Linden). A substitute adopted in committee expanded the care locations covered by the increased fines to include behavioral health facilities. Addressing violence against healthcare workers and deterring potential attacks continues to be an MHA priority. HBs 4520 and 4521 now move to the Senate Floor for a full chamber vote.

MHA supported bills to improve Michigan’s Amended Auto no-fault laws were passed by the full Michigan Senate in a bipartisan vote. Senate Bills (SBs) 530 and 531, introduced by Sens. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Township) and Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), would simplify and increase Medicare hospital reimbursements, clarify the definition of Medicare and create a new post-acute care provider fee schedule. The MHA’s executive vice president of government relations and public policy, Laura Appel, testified in committee last week. Appel stressed the importance of a strong healthcare system to care for auto accident patients. The bills now move to the House for their consideration.

Senate Health Policy took testimony on SB 482, sponsored by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), which lifts the state’s 90 day disposal requirement on sharps containers. The MHA membership voiced concerns about the 90-day disposal requirement, sharing that it would lead to sealing and disposing of containers before they reached their ¾ fill mark. The FDA regulated containers can be costly and difficult to obtain, as hospitals experienced following a manufacturing facility fire, and further disposal of an underutilized container contributes to unnecessary and preventable medical waste. The MHA worked directly with Sen. McDonald Rivet on this legislation, based on the feedback of hospitals who shared concerns about cost, access and environmental impact. The MHA is supportive of this important policy change that will directly benefit the membership.

The governor also signed into law several bills intended to codify Affordable Care Act protections at the state level. House Bills 4619 – 4623 and Senate Bills 356 – 358 were signed by Gov. Whitmer on Oct. 19. The MHA is supportive of the package, which has been passed in at least 15 other states and would protect Michigan consumers in the event there were future amendments or judicial changes to the current federal law.

Members with any questions may contact Elizabeth Kutter.

Legislature Introduces Bills on Hospital Waste and Drug Costs

Member News
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capitol buildingLegislation was introduced in the state Senate Sept. 12 that would help hospitals reduce unnecessary waste and would attempt to control the rising price of certain drugs. Senate Bill (SB) 482  was introduced by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) and adds language to existing statute to clarify that sharps containers do not have to be disposed of within 90 days, as long as the container is at 3/4ths capacity or less. The legislation is intended to reduce waste generated from disposing sharps containers that have not been utilized to their full extent. Waivers were in place during the pandemic to allow for extended use of sharps containers and this legislative change would make that policy permanent. The MHA is supportive of the legislation that was referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee.

SBs 483 – 485 were led by Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Sen. Kristen McDonal Rivet (D-Bay City) and Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe) and would create the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.  This board would be empowered to create upper payment limits for drugs that meet certain criteria, including the rate of increase in price in previous years, their importance to healthcare consumers and other considerations. 12 other states have enacted similar laws and the new bills were referred to the Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection. The MHA is closely monitoring the bills and working with the sponsors to ensure they do not have a negative impact on hospitals or the availability of medications.

Members with any questions may contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.