Legislative Update: Weel of April 23rd

This week the legislature put the pedal to the metal you could say and was set the tackle several issues including moving the budgets to their different chambers, and tackling the issue of cyber charter schools and lifting the cap in the amount of cyber charters can be in Michigan. Both chambers worked later than usual this week pushing the budget process forward, let’s review:

House:

The House Health Policy committee met this week with what looked to be a loaded agenda but last second four bills that dealt with oral chemotherapy parity were pulled due to the lack of the needed votes to pass the legislation. The committee did take testimony on House Bills 5089 and 5090 which created a repository for prescription drugs that were not used and still within their packaging and then also providing for a process for destruction for those prescription that cannot be used. Testimony was very positive on the issue, praising the legislature to creating a system that was seen as a first step to deal with the some of the problems associated with left over prescriptions. There were some concerns about the liability issues that could arise from dispensing the drugs again as they could be seen as "second rate" drugs. It is unknown when the committee will consider taking a vote on the issue.

The committee also considered Senate Bill 723 which creates the online Piece of Mind registry. MSMS stands in support of the legislation as it looks to privately streamline the way the power of attorney, do not resuscitate orders, and other end of life issues are handled. It is expected the committee will be voting on the legislation very soon.

The House Families, Children, and Seniors committee considered a package of bills that deal with elder abuse and creating elder death teams. MSMS was interested in Senate Bill 457 that required the county medical examiner to create an elder death team to investigate suspicious elder deaths. This is an issue that could, especially in rural areas in Michigan, hamper the ability of the medical examiner to complete his/hers duties. We will continue to watch this legislation.

Senate:

The Senate considered one item this week that did pique the interest of the Medical Society that provides for the overall public good. House Bill 4393 was passed out of the Senate and ordered to the Governor's office for signature. The bill would exempt minors that turn themselves in for treatment of alcohol poisoning or other complications associated with the overuse of alcohol from receiving a minor in position ticket. This is a great tool the now takes the fear away from kids that need the help but fear running into trouble with the law. The Governor's office has not voiced any concerns with the legislation.

The Senate Insurance committee considered and voted on extremely quickly House Bills 5408 and 5421 which would require insurers pay for telemedicine. This passed through the House pretty handily and is expected to do the same in the Senate. Abortion was the issue that returned to the Senate Judiciary committee this week. The committee considered House Bill 4798, 4799, 5134, 5181, and 5182 which is a package of bills that makes it illegal for a health professional, including physicians, to coerce anyone into an abortion. The Michigan chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists submitted a letter in opposition to the measures, MSMS stood with ACOG in agreement with their position. It is expected that the committee will vote on these measures in the coming weeks.

Appropriations:

This week the majority of the work in both the House and the Senate was associated with the budget. The Senate passed their version of the Department of Community Health budget, Senate Bill 950. The Senate continued it stance to keep Graduate Medical Education funded with a place holder and still keeping in the requirements for the department to rework the GME formula. One surprise though, was the addition of an amendment to the DCH budget that would allow smoking for fundraising events done privately and have been in existence for more than 10 years. The language was placed in the boilerplate section of the bill so its enforcement is somewhat questionable but this is one of what MSMS is sure to be, several attempts to weaken the Dr. Ron Davis smoking law.

The House wrapped their budgets up again into to separate bills, one called the school bus (all of the education appropriations) and the big bus (everything else). The House omnibus appropriations bill is 5365. The over six hundred page bill provides appropriations for several state departments. GME was continued at the current levels for this fiscal year but included an almost additional million dollars. The House did not consider the smoking amendment to the budget.

Now bills will switch chambers and consideration and budget targets will start to align. The next big day is in mid May when the Michigan Department of Treasury, House Fiscal Agency, and the Senate Fiscal Agency come together to revise revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year for the state. The timeline for the budget in completion by June 1st.

For more information on things happening in Lansing and beyond head to www.msms.org/advocacy. With elections right around the corner, your support to MDPAC helps to support our allies, support MDPAC at www.mdpac.org.

Legislative Update: Week of December 5th.

This week did not have much activity concerning health issues in the legislature. One issue that MSMS has been tracking was signed by the Governor last week Tuesday. The Matt's Safe School Law was signed into law by Governor Snyder in a signing event that took place at the Capitol in Lansing. This legislation requires schools to have programs to deal with bullying and provide punishment for those who are have broken the policy set by the school. The law took effect with the signature of the Governor. Lets review other happenings in the legislature:

House:

The House Health Policy committee continues to take testimony surrounding the health care exchanges by welcoming Delta Dental to testify. The House continues to work to find ways to pass the auto no-fault changes out but still can not find a consensus on what the changes need to be. With the work they are putting in on the bill and the little sign of movement on the bill it now looks like this could be an issues they will move after the first of the year.

Senate:

The Senate did have some action associated with health care by passing the advanced directives registry out of the Senate. Senate bill 723 provides for the creation of a registry to hold advanced directives for end of life or as the state calls it, "Peace of Mind". You would be able to mail in or enter online your directives for end of life care along with decisions with you estate and others. This is purely voluntary and the information you choose to put in it is whatever you choose.

The Senate Health Policy committee considered several bills including three that would require an insurance rider be add to a health insurance policy to have coverage for an abortion. MSMS does not have an official position on abortion but attended the testimony to support our colleagues from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.