The end of the yearly budget race is now in the sights of the lawmakers as the leadership teams of both houses were able to come to an agreement on where they wanted to budget to fall out, does that include the expansion of Medicaid, let's review the activities of the week.
House:
The House Health Policy committee this week took testimony on a host of legislation. House Bill 4736 which would bring Expedited Partner Therapy to Michigan, that could make it the 36th state to put this policy into place. Dr. Annette Mercatante, health officer of St. Clair County Health Department, testified on behalf of MSMS and the Michigan Association of Local Public Health. Dr. Mercatante was able to provide the experiences of those working in the public health field and those working in the local public health departments. Dr. Jody Jones testified on behalf of ACOG providing the aspects of pregnant mothers and their unborn children. The committee also considered Senate bills 237, 238, and 239 that would change immunization requirements by having children be immunized by the 7th grade rather than the 6th grade. It is expected that the House committee will take the legislation up for a vote on June 4th.
Senate:
The Senate Health Policy committee also met this week considering two items during their meeting. The the State deciding not the implement their own health insurance exchange, regulations have to now be put into place to deal with the impending changes. One of those changes came up in the committee in the form of Senate Bill 324 that would provide some regulations for navigators of the exchange. This bill rushed out of committee and on to the Senate floor where it has been posted to be considered in the House Health Policy committee on June 4th. Senate Bill 373 was also considered which would allow the Board of Pharmacy to allow for pilot projects for applications of prescriptions. This legislation will be heading to the House as well but not at the same speed at the navigators legislation.
Budget:
This week the final hurdle was crossed by the legislator allowing for the considerations of the different departmental budgets. Last week the May Revenue Estimating conference met letting the legislators know that there was just over $400 Million extra revenue coming into the State for the next fiscal year. major questions of road and education funding, a fix for the HICA tax that funnels into Medicaid, along with other ideas were thrown out on the table for consideration. After discussions between the leadership the decision was made to put the majority of that funding into road construction and maintenance and also putting $75 Million into the State's rainy day fund.
This left no discussion of a fix for the HICA tax shortfall and the Medicaid expansion with the news of the spending priorities with the new found money. This goes for the agreement discussions as well between the House and Senate leadership when looking at finalizing the numbers for the coming year's budget, leaving the Medicaid expansion off the table. Signs are not positive for those support the expansion with the feasibility of the expansion being including in this budget bill less likely by the day, leaving the legislator no choice than to do a separate bill if they choose to expand the program. Conference committees will start meeting next week with the hope that a budget solution will be found by the end of next week.
Stay with MSMS to get the up to date information on what is happening in Lansing and beyond; go to http://www.msms.org/advocacy. Your support keeps physician issues on the forefront of the legislators, we need your continual support, go to http://www.mdpac.org to see how you can help today.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Legislative Update Week of May 13th
The Legislature received it's updated estimates on revenue for the coming fiscal year on Wednesday which sparked activity on the budgets in the House and Senate. The Senate finally sent its MDCH budget proposal to the full House without the Medicaid Expansion dollars realized in the budget, while House Republicans started taking testimony on their solution to the Medicaid question. Let's review the activities of the week:
House:
The House this week in the common procedural move "zeroed" out the budget proposals that the Senate sent to the House and sent them back which now sets up the budgets to go to conference committee. One lingering issue that the House will most certainly address next week is the MDCH budget that was finally sent to the House for their consideration without the Medicaid Expansion dollars allocated in the budget, leaving the question still on the table of the expansion will survive in Michigan.
The House Health Policy committee this week considered Senate Bill 165 and House Bill 4156 in its traditional second hearing fashion was looking to take a vote on the legislation. The committee provided a substitute to Senate Bill 165 and House Bill 4156 and sent them on their way to the House floor for consideration. The Senate bill will have to be sent back to the Senate for concurrence since the House amended the bill.
The main attraction this week was actually the House Michigan Competitiveness Committee which had House Bill 4714 which is the Republican answer to the Medicaid Expansion question. Committee meetings on this legislation started on Tuesday with hearing in the afternoon and then continued again on Thursday. Republicans are looking for major Medicaid reform and on Thursday had the opportunity to ask the Michigan Department of Community Health Director Jim Haveman and Medicaid Director Steve Finton if they felt that direction Republicans were taking was a good idea and to provide a general overview of the current system in Michigan. It is expected that the process will continue into the next week or two before any potential action from the committee.
The Senate
The Senate Health Policy committee reconvened this week where health insurance was on their radar. The committee considered Senate Bill 324 which would provide the licensure and governance of insurance "Navigators" in Michigan. With the pending implementation of the health insurance exchanges the use of navigators will be crucial to those looking to obtain health insurance. Currently under Michigan statute there is no mention of navigators leaving them to be unlicensed and unregulated on a state level. The committee just took testimony on the legislation and would expect to vote the legislation out before the summer break begins.
Expedited Partner Therapy Press Conference
On this past Thursday the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) along with MSMS, the Michigan section of ACOG, MALPH, and the Michigan Pharmacists Association had a press conference and reception to education lawmakers on the policies of Expedited Partner Therapy. Representatives Gail Haines and George Darany were gracious hosts of the reception and press conference with Representative Darany being able to highlight his legislation House Bull 4736 that would bring EPT to Michigan.
"The treatment is critical to prevent reinfections and further transmission for untreated partners," Rep. Darany said in the press conference. Jeff Phillips, MD represented MSMS at the press conference providing his thoughts and expertise to the panel. "It's frustrating seeing these patients come back time and again with an infection that is easily treatable," said Phillips after the press conference. Stephanie Arnold Pang from NCSD provided the national outlook of the practice of EPT and what they are seeing from the different states that have implemented the policies. "If you don't treat a partner of a patient with an STD, the treatment of that index patient is not effective, they are just going to be reinfected and it will cause more costs and visits on our health care system," said Arnold Pang. The legislation is now scheduled for a hearing on May 21st with a possible voting out of the committee on June 4th.
Stay with MSMS to get the most up to date information on all of the items MSMS is following in the legislature and beyond at http://www.msms.org/advocacy.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Legislative Update Week of May 6th
This week Medicaid took the
spotlight away from all of the other activities as the House Republicans
produced their plan to reform Medicaid so that they could accept the expansion
of the highly utilized program. Let's review that and the other activities of
the week in the Michigan Legislature.
House:
The House saw little activity this
week as the Tulip festival was underway on the west side of the state. This
left little action by committees and the full House. The House Health Policy
committee did schedule a hearing for the 14th where they will be likely voting
on the Senate Bill 165 and House Bill 4156.
Senate:
The Senate this week considered
Senate Bills 237, 238, and 239 which would change the grade requirements for
immunizations in Michigan. The Senate Health Policy committee saw little to no
objection of moving this legislation forward and neither did the full Senate
Floor. The bills passed the floor without any objection and have now moved to
the House where they have been referred to the House Health Policy committee.
Medicaid Reform:
 |
| Outline of Republican Medicaid Reform Source: Michigan Republican Caucus |
Over the past several months the
Legislature has been grappling with expanding Michigan's Medicaid program to
bring in those individuals who are at 133% of poverty or worse in to the
program. Many in both chambers feel that they are setting up Michigan for
legacy costs that could hamper the other essential services that the state
provides, for example road funding and education. MSMS, the Michigan Hospital
Association, along with other medical groups have come out with the Governor
and supported the expansion.
Feelings in the legislature still
where they were when the expansion was first announced found themselves asking
for reforms in Medicaid, where it has the perception of being a huge money
drain that is full of inefficiencies and waste. From the mindset both House and
Senate members have been trying to find a way to reform Medicaid to allow for
the expansion to happen while continuing to be fiscal responsible. House
Republicans this past Thursday feel that they have the answer.
Their plan (House Bill 4714) looks
like this:
- Requires that the expansion be 100% funding by the
federal government.
- Would require those on Medicaid to pay a co-pay or
deductible that falls within 5% of their income.
- Would set up Health Savings account for those on
Medicaid.
- Preventative care would be a little or no cost to the
patient.
- Providing incentives for those patients on long term
care to get well and make themselves better.
- Options to those on Medicaid to choose private plans
for insurance, similar to a insurance exchange except specific to
Medicaid.
- Would only allow those who are single and able to be on
Medicaid for 48 months which is seeking to rid them of an entitlement
feeling.
It is uncertain when and if this
proposal will receive a hearing but be assured it will be similar to the Auto
No-Fault or Tort Reform hearings that have happened in the past. Stay with MSMS
to get all of the up to date information on this and others at http://www.msms.org/advocacy.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Legislative Update Week of April 29th
Words of Auto No-Fault reform continued to stay in the air this week as the House Insurance committee while the topic of abortion found its way to the Senate Judiciary committee. Let's review the events of the past week:
House:
The House Health Policy committee met this week and considered two items which the committee took only testimony. The first bill was House Bill 4156 which would create liability protections for nurses who are practicing under a special volunteer license. This practice is common for other health professionals including physicians, dentists, and others. Little opposition was brought to the committee's attention and this bill should be voted on next week in the committee. The second bill the committee reviewed was Senate Bill 165 which would require hospitals to provide in writing information to the patient's parent or guardian, if the patient was a minor, on the use or non use of life sustaining treatment or non beneficial treatment. The committee is expected to vote this legislation out in the coming week as well.
The main event this week was again in the House Insurance committee where they continued taking testimony on House Bill 4612 that would reform Michigan's Auto No-Fault system. The committee started in the morning back in their normal committee location in the House Office Building. The committee room along with two other rooms were pack full of people concerned about the impending changes brought forth by the legislature. The committee went until Noon where it broke so that the members could go to Session to work on the items planned for the full House that day. After Session the members of the committee came back and continued until just after 5:00pm. Just before the committee broke, Chairman Lund asked for amendments to the bill and ran those, which would take away the $50,000 cap for retrofitting houses or cars and removing the 16 hours cap for in home care allowing for a full 24 hour in home care. After all the amendments were considered the committee took their vote seeing the legislation leave the House Insurance committee on a partisan vote, all Republicans voting for and the Democrats voting against. Now the legislation heads to the full House where some are saying that some members on the republican side don't want to vote on the issue.
Senate:
The Senate this week had the youth in mind this week. Starting with the Health Policy Committee, they considered Senate Bills 237, 238, 239 that would amend the Public Health Code, School Code, and the School Aid Act to move the grade requirement from 6th grade to 7th grade starting January 2014. Legislation was provided to move the grade requirement so that it would be able to fit all of the age requirements that health professionals were looking to obtain. These bills were sent to the Senate Floor after the committee voted out the legislation. It would expected for the Senate to consider the bills in the coming week.
The Senate Judiciary committee took another track this past meeting and had a discussion with the Department of Licensure and Regulatory Affairs about conflicts of interest on their licensure boards. This topic arose after a situation in Muskegon which involved the Michigan Board of Medicine. MSMS as been actively engaged with the issue of the committee and is working with the committee and the Board of Medicine to answer any and all questions.
Budget:
Budgets at this point are at a stand still. It is expected here in the next couple weeks that the House and Senate will whats called "zero out" the budgets sent by their colleagues in the other chamber returning the legislation back to their original chamber and finally sending them to Conference committee. All members of the Appropriations committee are awaiting the May Revenue Estimating Conference here in the coming weeks.
Stay with MSMS and MSMS Government Relations to get the up to date information either at http://www.msms.org/advocacy or on Twitter or Facebook!
House:
The House Health Policy committee met this week and considered two items which the committee took only testimony. The first bill was House Bill 4156 which would create liability protections for nurses who are practicing under a special volunteer license. This practice is common for other health professionals including physicians, dentists, and others. Little opposition was brought to the committee's attention and this bill should be voted on next week in the committee. The second bill the committee reviewed was Senate Bill 165 which would require hospitals to provide in writing information to the patient's parent or guardian, if the patient was a minor, on the use or non use of life sustaining treatment or non beneficial treatment. The committee is expected to vote this legislation out in the coming week as well.
The main event this week was again in the House Insurance committee where they continued taking testimony on House Bill 4612 that would reform Michigan's Auto No-Fault system. The committee started in the morning back in their normal committee location in the House Office Building. The committee room along with two other rooms were pack full of people concerned about the impending changes brought forth by the legislature. The committee went until Noon where it broke so that the members could go to Session to work on the items planned for the full House that day. After Session the members of the committee came back and continued until just after 5:00pm. Just before the committee broke, Chairman Lund asked for amendments to the bill and ran those, which would take away the $50,000 cap for retrofitting houses or cars and removing the 16 hours cap for in home care allowing for a full 24 hour in home care. After all the amendments were considered the committee took their vote seeing the legislation leave the House Insurance committee on a partisan vote, all Republicans voting for and the Democrats voting against. Now the legislation heads to the full House where some are saying that some members on the republican side don't want to vote on the issue.
Senate:
The Senate this week had the youth in mind this week. Starting with the Health Policy Committee, they considered Senate Bills 237, 238, 239 that would amend the Public Health Code, School Code, and the School Aid Act to move the grade requirement from 6th grade to 7th grade starting January 2014. Legislation was provided to move the grade requirement so that it would be able to fit all of the age requirements that health professionals were looking to obtain. These bills were sent to the Senate Floor after the committee voted out the legislation. It would expected for the Senate to consider the bills in the coming week.
The Senate Judiciary committee took another track this past meeting and had a discussion with the Department of Licensure and Regulatory Affairs about conflicts of interest on their licensure boards. This topic arose after a situation in Muskegon which involved the Michigan Board of Medicine. MSMS as been actively engaged with the issue of the committee and is working with the committee and the Board of Medicine to answer any and all questions.
Budget:
Budgets at this point are at a stand still. It is expected here in the next couple weeks that the House and Senate will whats called "zero out" the budgets sent by their colleagues in the other chamber returning the legislation back to their original chamber and finally sending them to Conference committee. All members of the Appropriations committee are awaiting the May Revenue Estimating Conference here in the coming weeks.
Stay with MSMS and MSMS Government Relations to get the up to date information either at http://www.msms.org/advocacy or on Twitter or Facebook!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Legislative Update Week of April 22nd
This week saw the start of an issue that MSMS has been concerned with for the past decade. The second attempt in the past four years to reform Michigan's Auto No Fault system officially started; while at the same time taking attention away from both chambers passing their respective budget bills furthering that process down the road. Let’s review the activities of the past week:
House
This week the full House took action on their budget bills sending their usual two budget bills to the Senate for their consideration. The general government budget omnibus legislation saw the least amount of controversy with the education omnibus bill, affectionately known as the "School Bus" has a harder time moving due to some language that dealt with employee contracts. Both bills are now in the Senate passing another hurdle in the budget process.
More importantly the House finally sent Senate Bills 178 and 179 to the Governor for his consideration. These pieces of legislation would help create the uniformed prior authorization forms for physicians when looking to obtain authorization for prescriptions. This will finally bring some solid reforms providing physicians more time with patients and less time doing paperwork.
The House Health Policy committee this week had a presentation on CRE infections. This topic came about from an article that was in the WashingtonPost concerning the increase in the dangerous infections around the country and that only a few states were tracking them. Matthew Sims, MD, who is the Director of the Department of Infectious Disease Research at Beaumont hospital, testified for the medical society on the effects of the infections in Michigan what health systems and physicians are doing about it. There could be future legislation that could require physicians report the instances of CRE infections.
 |
| Picture inside committee room for the No-Fault hearing. |
The committee was held in the largest room available to the House for committees and still had four more rooms and hallways full of people wanting to testify and get their voice heard on the issue. The committee went late into the afternoon with the promise that those who wanted to testify could. Finally at the end of the day the committee was not able to get through everyone leaving with more committee meetings to happen here in the near future. MSMS is working with the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault (CPAN) in providing information for the committee members on why this is the wrong move for Michigan. We will continue working with our partners to stop this harmful legislation.
Senate:
The senate had more of a mundane week by having them primarily working on their budgets, sending each individual budget to the House for their consideration; a different move from the House that bundled their budgets together. Multiple amendments were made on the floor including the amendment to place the Medicaid expansion money in the Department of Community Health budget, but failed along party lines. With the expansion money still left out it leaves supporters working and pushing for the money to be included. At this point we wait to see the work of the crucial conference committees that will ultimately make the decision on the expansion money.
This week is the MSMS House of Delegates in Grand Rapids. We will be providing an overview of the issues that happened at the annual meeting. Follow MSMS at http://www.msms.org/advocacy to get the up to date information from our Twitter and Facebook feeds. Stay with us as well to get the most up to date information on the issue affecting physicians around Michigan.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Legislative Update Week of April 15th
This week saw a flurry of legislative activity on health issues and other that are big for the medical community, lets get into the review:
House:
This week the House Health Policy committee took testimony on House Bill 4524, the Patient Right to Know legislation. Dr. Kenneth Elmassian, MSMS President-Elect, testified to the committee providing his expertise to the committee on this issue. "It gives patients more information when they are seeking and receiving their health care," Elmassian said. "Let's be honest, the health care system is very confusing. Patients deserve better than the system is currently giving them." The committee members fired back though leaving those in the committee wondering if the legislation would have a hard time getting out. We will be waiting to see what the committee will do in the coming week and we will let you know if the legislation moves further in the process.
Senate:
The Senate Reform, Restructuring, and Reinventing committee this week took its final week of testimony and moved Senate Bill 2 out of the committee to the full Senate Floor for its consideration. We reported before that this legislation would provide a sweeping change to the Public Health code providing independance for NP's CNM's and CNS-C's. For more indepth information on the original bill click on "2" above to obtain bill language and legislative analysis from the Senate Fiscal Agency. Dr. Rose Ramirez, MSMS's Speaker of the House, testified to the committee with her personal professional experience starting out in nursing and then obtaining her MD and working as a physician. "As
physicians, our overarching concern is with the well-being of our patients and that
the laws and regulations of Michigan lead to health care that is safe,
efficient, and of the highest quality.
Patients benefit from having a focused, team-based approach that
encourages communication and collaboration among the various members of the
team," Dr. Ramirez testified. Through the efforts of the testimony the legislation still made its way out of the committee with a vote count of 6-1.
Budget:
This week saw the Senate Appropriations committee working on their budgets getting them through committee and sent to the full Senate for their consideration. Still left out of the budget was the money for the MSMS supported expansion of Medicaid. Many people around the capitol say that this is a vote that some of the members are either against or uneasy about taking. We could see the budgets get to their final conference committee before a decision is made about the Medicaid expansion.
Auto No Fault:
This week the Governor, along with House and Senate Insurance Chairman, introduced their plan to reform Michigan's Auto No-Fault system. This is round two to a fail attempt last session. That plan created levels of coverage that a individual could purchase that would bring savings to the buyer of the plan. This time around they are taking a different approach by providing a cap for coverage up to $1 Million. Also in the new proposal there will be a pilot program that would provide lower cost insurance for those who in poverty, have a clean driving record, and have a low value vehicle. With this program they are hoping that it will entice those who do not have insurance to purchase it. In terms of fraud they are want to begin an auditor program that will be constantly looking for fraud. With this plan officials say that families with two vehicles could see a yearly savings of $250.
“Take a good look at this plan: is it really in the public’s best interest? I hardly think so. Capping lifetime benefits at $1 million for the catastrophically injured ultimately will shove the most vulnerable victims onto Medicaid and will pile the financial responsibility to the taxpayers," said John Cornack, President of the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault (CPAN). We expect here in the next few weeks that hearings will begin in the appropriate committees.
Stay with MSMS to get the up to date information on twitter @msmsgovtaffairs, on Facebook or online at http://www.MSMS.org/advocacy.
House:
 |
| Dr. Kenneth Elmassian testifying to the House Health Policy Committee |
Senate:
 |
| Dr. Rose Ramirez answering questions in the Senate Triple R committee. |
Budget:
This week saw the Senate Appropriations committee working on their budgets getting them through committee and sent to the full Senate for their consideration. Still left out of the budget was the money for the MSMS supported expansion of Medicaid. Many people around the capitol say that this is a vote that some of the members are either against or uneasy about taking. We could see the budgets get to their final conference committee before a decision is made about the Medicaid expansion.
Auto No Fault:
This week the Governor, along with House and Senate Insurance Chairman, introduced their plan to reform Michigan's Auto No-Fault system. This is round two to a fail attempt last session. That plan created levels of coverage that a individual could purchase that would bring savings to the buyer of the plan. This time around they are taking a different approach by providing a cap for coverage up to $1 Million. Also in the new proposal there will be a pilot program that would provide lower cost insurance for those who in poverty, have a clean driving record, and have a low value vehicle. With this program they are hoping that it will entice those who do not have insurance to purchase it. In terms of fraud they are want to begin an auditor program that will be constantly looking for fraud. With this plan officials say that families with two vehicles could see a yearly savings of $250.
“Take a good look at this plan: is it really in the public’s best interest? I hardly think so. Capping lifetime benefits at $1 million for the catastrophically injured ultimately will shove the most vulnerable victims onto Medicaid and will pile the financial responsibility to the taxpayers," said John Cornack, President of the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault (CPAN). We expect here in the next few weeks that hearings will begin in the appropriate committees.
Stay with MSMS to get the up to date information on twitter @msmsgovtaffairs, on Facebook or online at http://www.MSMS.org/advocacy.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Legislative Update Week of April 8th
Budgets were the word for the legislature this week as the public had the
first opportunity to see what the legislature was thinking in funding the
government for the next fiscal year. In term of the Community Health budget,
Medicaid was put front and center. Let’s review the activities of the past
week:
House:
The House this made noise in what was introduced rather than the action that was taken by the body. Representative Gail Haines introduced House Bill 4524 that would require health professionals to wear identification cards so that patients will know who is who. There have been discussions that patients are sometimes confused on who their physician, PA, NP, nurse, etc are; by providing an increased identification hopefully it will provide clarity for the patient and the patient's family.
MSMS hosted a press conference with Rep. Haines and Dr. Kenneth Elmassian,
MSMS's President-Elect. They discussed with WLNS the importance of the
legislation and the importance of providing clarity to those receiving the
care. The House Health Policy committee will be considering the legislation,
only taking testimony at their upcoming meeting on April 16th.
The House Health Policy committee has continued their work by furthering their education and knowledge base on the issue effecting Michigan's health care. The topic for this committee meeting was long term care and the effects it is having on insurance carriers. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan along with the Michigan Association of Health Plans testified to the committee providing their insights on the issue of long term care. The committee will be meeting next week to consider several issues including House Bill 4524.
Senate:
The Senate this week considered one piece of legislation that would have direct effects in the medical community, licensure of pharmacy technicians, Senate Bill 92. Currently in Michigan pharmacy techs are not licensed or controlled by the Michigan Board of Pharmacy but rather fall under the purview of the Pharmacist. Because of this, pharmacy techs that are engaged in illegal activities are being let go and then are picked up by another employer where they can continue their illegal activities. By being licensed they now will have to face sanctions and fear of losing a license and having to have a license to practice; it will create a failsafe to keep the bad actors out. This legislation did get through the full Senate and will now be heading to the House Health Policy committee. The Senate Health Policy committee did not meet this past week.
Budget:
This week the Senate subcommittee for the Department of Community Health passed out their recommendation for the upcoming fiscal year. MSMS has been a proponent with the Governor in the Medicaid expansion. Both the House and Senate committees were not so excite about expanding the rolls of Medicaid and left the expansion money out of their budget plans. The Senate did provide language in their bill to ask the federal government to provide a waiver for their program to allow Medicaid to add incentives in the Medicaid program to lead to healthier lifestyles .
Also the committee deciced that restoring funding for Graduate Medical Education would be a priority of the committee. Dr. John Bizon, MSMS President had this to say about it, "By preserving these critical education tools, is is clear that the primary focus of the Subcommittee on the Department of Community Health was imporving the health of Michigan patients for generations and that;s great new for families across our state. Senator John Moolenaar and his colleagues are to be commended for their work on this important issue."
The House, in usual fashion for the past couple years, took all of their budgets and combined them into one massive budget bill. For more information on the House or Senate bills, click on the links provided. With the budgets now out, the legislature has taken one step in what will be many more to come.
For more information on what is happening in Lansing and beyond stay with MSMS at http://www.msms.org/advocacy.
House:
The House this made noise in what was introduced rather than the action that was taken by the body. Representative Gail Haines introduced House Bill 4524 that would require health professionals to wear identification cards so that patients will know who is who. There have been discussions that patients are sometimes confused on who their physician, PA, NP, nurse, etc are; by providing an increased identification hopefully it will provide clarity for the patient and the patient's family.
 |
| Dr. Elmassion and Representative Haines at Patient Right to Know Press Conference. |
The House Health Policy committee has continued their work by furthering their education and knowledge base on the issue effecting Michigan's health care. The topic for this committee meeting was long term care and the effects it is having on insurance carriers. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan along with the Michigan Association of Health Plans testified to the committee providing their insights on the issue of long term care. The committee will be meeting next week to consider several issues including House Bill 4524.
Senate:
The Senate this week considered one piece of legislation that would have direct effects in the medical community, licensure of pharmacy technicians, Senate Bill 92. Currently in Michigan pharmacy techs are not licensed or controlled by the Michigan Board of Pharmacy but rather fall under the purview of the Pharmacist. Because of this, pharmacy techs that are engaged in illegal activities are being let go and then are picked up by another employer where they can continue their illegal activities. By being licensed they now will have to face sanctions and fear of losing a license and having to have a license to practice; it will create a failsafe to keep the bad actors out. This legislation did get through the full Senate and will now be heading to the House Health Policy committee. The Senate Health Policy committee did not meet this past week.
Budget:
This week the Senate subcommittee for the Department of Community Health passed out their recommendation for the upcoming fiscal year. MSMS has been a proponent with the Governor in the Medicaid expansion. Both the House and Senate committees were not so excite about expanding the rolls of Medicaid and left the expansion money out of their budget plans. The Senate did provide language in their bill to ask the federal government to provide a waiver for their program to allow Medicaid to add incentives in the Medicaid program to lead to healthier lifestyles .
Also the committee deciced that restoring funding for Graduate Medical Education would be a priority of the committee. Dr. John Bizon, MSMS President had this to say about it, "By preserving these critical education tools, is is clear that the primary focus of the Subcommittee on the Department of Community Health was imporving the health of Michigan patients for generations and that;s great new for families across our state. Senator John Moolenaar and his colleagues are to be commended for their work on this important issue."
The House, in usual fashion for the past couple years, took all of their budgets and combined them into one massive budget bill. For more information on the House or Senate bills, click on the links provided. With the budgets now out, the legislature has taken one step in what will be many more to come.
For more information on what is happening in Lansing and beyond stay with MSMS at http://www.msms.org/advocacy.
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