The legislature went into their last week of session for the year with a plan to move a significant amount of legislation surrounding a variety of topics. Some of the bigger headline pieces dealt with lifting the caps on the amount of charter schools there can be in Michigan and some clean up and changes within the different tax codes.
The one piece of legislation that both chambers considered that would effect the physician community directly was House Bill 5014 that would provide a supplemental appropriation for different departments. Included in the list of those where money was appropriated was towards Graduate Medical Education. Just over $8 Million gross was appropriated towards GME which only filled half of the gap that was left from the beginning of the year.
Committees did not meet this week with it being the last session week of the year. The legislature will reconvene on January 11 at Noon. The Governor is slated to present his State of the State address on January 18th usually around 6:30-7:00 p.m. We will be taking a break for the holidays, we wish you and yours the best for this holiday season, see you in 2012.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Legislative Update: Week of November 28th
The legislature was back in session this week after the two week holiday break. Auto no fault continues to stay at the fore front of the issue MSMS is working on but for the legislature that was a different story. The House still continues to work on the no fault issue, trying to find members of their caucus to support the changes while the Senate looks on. There were two issues that MSMS was interested in that did get some movement this week, lets review:
House:
The House this week received back HB 5014 that provides supplemental appropriations for several state departments. Included in the appropriations proposal that came back from the senate was a $3 Million General Fund / General Purpose (GF/GP) appropriations for graduate medical education. This would calculate to a just over $8 Million increase in GME funding with state and federal dollars. The House Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Community Health took testimony this week on the inclusion of the GME money and what it meant for programs. Dr. Eric Scher from Henry Ford Health Systems testified at the committee hearing.
The House Health Policy Committee continued taking testimony from interested parties involved with the implementation of a health insurance exchange.The House in general worked on issues dealing with local governments and watercraft safety.
Senate:
The Senate this week dealt primarily with issues surrounding unemployment but did consider one issue that the legislation and regulations committee of MSMS considered. SB 798 allows for the temporary scheduling of drugs and controlled substances if deemed necessary by the Department of Community Health. It was passed out of the Senate and sent to the House for their consideration. The Senate Health Policy committee was scheduled to meet but did not because of the lengthy session day on Thursday.
House:
The House this week received back HB 5014 that provides supplemental appropriations for several state departments. Included in the appropriations proposal that came back from the senate was a $3 Million General Fund / General Purpose (GF/GP) appropriations for graduate medical education. This would calculate to a just over $8 Million increase in GME funding with state and federal dollars. The House Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Community Health took testimony this week on the inclusion of the GME money and what it meant for programs. Dr. Eric Scher from Henry Ford Health Systems testified at the committee hearing.
The House Health Policy Committee continued taking testimony from interested parties involved with the implementation of a health insurance exchange.The House in general worked on issues dealing with local governments and watercraft safety.
Senate:
The Senate this week dealt primarily with issues surrounding unemployment but did consider one issue that the legislation and regulations committee of MSMS considered. SB 798 allows for the temporary scheduling of drugs and controlled substances if deemed necessary by the Department of Community Health. It was passed out of the Senate and sent to the House for their consideration. The Senate Health Policy committee was scheduled to meet but did not because of the lengthy session day on Thursday.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Legislative Update Week of November 7, 2011
With this the final week leading up to the legislature taking a two week break for the upcoming holiday, a flurry of activity was scheduled for each chamber. This as the House loses one of its own, now leaving two vacant seats in the House. Rumors of movement with the Auto No-Fault legislation moving this week seemed to have died down later on in the week leaving the House members to continue to work on the issue.
Not many items moved this week within the chambers that would directly affect the physician community but there were two:
Senate:
The Senate moved House Bill 5014 which is a Appropriations supplemental bill that would provide funding for electronic medical records, this bill was substituted in the Senate to add more appropriations other other departments and was sent back to the House to concur in the amendments. The Senate also moved Senate Bill 693 which creates the framework for the Michigan Health Marketplace (health insurance exchange). With the affordable care act, this had to be created for the State to continue to control its health insurance market and if they do not have something in place by the deadline (end of 2013) the federal government will take over the selling of health insurance. The reason of why the legislature is choosing to act now is that there are federal grants that are attached to programs that are created and approved early which could ease the financial burden on the State.
House:
The House continues do to its work with the Auto No-Fault reform. Expected activity this week did not come to a head so work continues on their reforms.
Election Day Review:
Not many items moved this week within the chambers that would directly affect the physician community but there were two:
Senate:
The Senate moved House Bill 5014 which is a Appropriations supplemental bill that would provide funding for electronic medical records, this bill was substituted in the Senate to add more appropriations other other departments and was sent back to the House to concur in the amendments. The Senate also moved Senate Bill 693 which creates the framework for the Michigan Health Marketplace (health insurance exchange). With the affordable care act, this had to be created for the State to continue to control its health insurance market and if they do not have something in place by the deadline (end of 2013) the federal government will take over the selling of health insurance. The reason of why the legislature is choosing to act now is that there are federal grants that are attached to programs that are created and approved early which could ease the financial burden on the State.
House:
The House continues do to its work with the Auto No-Fault reform. Expected activity this week did not come to a head so work continues on their reforms.
Election Day Review:
Tuesday people all around Michigan went to the polls, voting on local issues and local leaders. There was one election that would leave some effect on the state located on the east side. The final day of the recall efforts against Rep. Paul Scott finally saw its end.
The efforts out oust Scott were started by the Michigan Education Association for tenure as House Education committee chairman working on a passage that revised the tenure system for teachers in Michigan. The changes were not welcomed by the MEA and sparked the efforts to recall the chairman. Those efforts came to fruition last night when the votes ended up in the MEA's favor and successfully recalled Rep. Scott. Once the votes are certified by the Secretary of State the seat will be officially vacated until a primary and general election are announced by the Governor to finish the term.
The efforts out oust Scott were started by the Michigan Education Association for tenure as House Education committee chairman working on a passage that revised the tenure system for teachers in Michigan. The changes were not welcomed by the MEA and sparked the efforts to recall the chairman. Those efforts came to fruition last night when the votes ended up in the MEA's favor and successfully recalled Rep. Scott. Once the votes are certified by the Secretary of State the seat will be officially vacated until a primary and general election are announced by the Governor to finish the term.
The House and Senate are now in Recess, returning after the Thanksgiving holiday. Look for a report the week they are back.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Post Election Rundown: November 9, 2011
Yesterday people all around Michigan went to the polls, voting on local issues and local leaders. There was one election that would leave some effect on the state located on the east side. The final day of the recall efforts against Rep. Paul Scott finally saw their end.
The efforts out oust Scott were started by the Michigan Education Association for tenure as House Education committee chairman working on a passage that revised the tenure system for teachers in Michigan. The changes were not welcomed by the MEA and sparked the efforts to recall the chairman. Those efforts came to fruition last night when the votes ended up in the MEA's favor and successfully recalled Rep. Scott. Once the votes are certified by the Secretary of State the seat will be officially vacated until a primary and general election are announced by the Governor to finish the term.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Legislative Update: Week of Oct. 31
Happy belated Halloween to everyone. Things in Lansing continue to move at a smooth and slow pace concerning health legislation. Auto No-Fault reform continues to be at the forefront along with the repeal of the crash helmet requirements for motorcyclists. Here's a rundown of the activity this week in the legislature:
House:
House Health Policy committee continued to take testimony on the creating of a health insurance exchange in Michigan, testimony has been ongoing for almost a month now. The committee also considered House Bill 5131 that would provide some efficiencies for prescription transfers from hospitals to assisted living and nursing facilities.
The House Appropriations subcommittee for Community Health met to continue hearing testimony on programs related to long term care, Michigan MI Choice program and dual eligibles in efforts of understanding the process and looking for possible savings down the road in Medicaid.
The full House considered three items on the radar of the society, HB 5002 that amends the workers compensation provisions, SB 291 that appeals the motorcycle crash helmet requirements and SB 235 that changed provisions associated with criminal sexual conduct and physicians and their patients. All of the bills will be sent to the Senate for their consideration.
Senate:
Senate Health Policy met to consider two bills where they continued their testimony on SB 698 that would create the framework for Michigan's Health Insurance Exchange or known as MI Health Marketplace. They also considered HB 4893 that would provide a volunteer license for optometrists and would provide certain liability protections for volunteers. Physicians currently have this privilege, this would just extend it to optometrists.
The full Senate considered HB's 4411 and 4412 that within the same scope of SB 235 changed provisions associated with CSC, physicians, and patients. Also they considered SB 466 that would create a senior tracking system similar to an amber alert system for children. The Senate also considered and passed out SB 137 that would require school districts to create guidelines for bullying in the school system.
Bill information can be found at http://www.msms.org/advocacy
House:
House Health Policy committee continued to take testimony on the creating of a health insurance exchange in Michigan, testimony has been ongoing for almost a month now. The committee also considered House Bill 5131 that would provide some efficiencies for prescription transfers from hospitals to assisted living and nursing facilities.
The House Appropriations subcommittee for Community Health met to continue hearing testimony on programs related to long term care, Michigan MI Choice program and dual eligibles in efforts of understanding the process and looking for possible savings down the road in Medicaid.
The full House considered three items on the radar of the society, HB 5002 that amends the workers compensation provisions, SB 291 that appeals the motorcycle crash helmet requirements and SB 235 that changed provisions associated with criminal sexual conduct and physicians and their patients. All of the bills will be sent to the Senate for their consideration.
Senate:
Senate Health Policy met to consider two bills where they continued their testimony on SB 698 that would create the framework for Michigan's Health Insurance Exchange or known as MI Health Marketplace. They also considered HB 4893 that would provide a volunteer license for optometrists and would provide certain liability protections for volunteers. Physicians currently have this privilege, this would just extend it to optometrists.
The full Senate considered HB's 4411 and 4412 that within the same scope of SB 235 changed provisions associated with CSC, physicians, and patients. Also they considered SB 466 that would create a senior tracking system similar to an amber alert system for children. The Senate also considered and passed out SB 137 that would require school districts to create guidelines for bullying in the school system.
Bill information can be found at http://www.msms.org/advocacy
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