This bill allows nurse practitioners to determine disability status for individuals applying for Michigan disability parking placards, expanding the list of qualified medical professionals beyond physicians and physician assistants. The legislation amends existing vehicle code sections to include nurse practitioners alongside doctors, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and optometrists who can certify a person's disability. The bill does not change the specific medical criteria for qualifying disabilities or the process for obtaining parking placards, but it broadens who can officially verify that a person meets those criteria. This change affects disabled individuals seeking parking privileges and the healthcare providers who evaluate their eligibility.
HB 4727 requires courts in Michigan to appoint only licensed professional guardians or conservators for individuals under legal protection (wards, developmentally disabled, or incapacitated persons). It mandates that these professionals must hold a license under Michigan's occupational code, and prohibits unlicensed employees from making medical, financial, or housing decisions for the individuals they serve. The bill also requires transparency by requiring professionals to disclose outside compensation from sources other than the ward's estate and to maintain visitation schedules for wards. These changes take effect two years after the bill's passage.
HB 4729 updates Michigan's rules for appointing guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities. It requires courts to prioritize licensed professional guardians (under Article 14A of the Occupational Code) when appointing guardians, and prohibits unlicensed employees of such guardians from making medical, financial, or housing decisions for these individuals. The law also mandates that courts consider the individual's preference for a guardian before making an appointment. These changes take effect two years after the bill's passage, aiming to ensure guardianship appointments meet professional standards.
HB 5255, the "Medical Debt Protection Act," limits how medical debt can be collected in Michigan, directly affecting patients with medical debt and large healthcare providers (with $20 million+ annual revenue) or medical debt buyers. It prohibits charging interest or late fees for 90 days after a bill is due and caps annual interest at 3% on medical debt. The bill bans aggressive collection tactics like wage garnishment for patients qualifying for financial assistance under a healthcare facility's policy, and requires medical debt buyers to follow strict rules, including not using prohibited collection actions and returning debt if a patient qualifies for financial aid.
HB 5457 creates a state fund to support hyperbaric oxygen therapy through grants and a temporary pilot program. The Department of Health and Human Services will administer the fund, using it for grants and operating the pilot program. After the pilot concludes, any remaining funds will transfer to the general state fund. The bill requires another bill (HB 5456) to be enacted first.
HB 5456 establishes a pilot program providing free hyperbaric oxygen therapy to Michigan veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill creates a state grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, funding providers to deliver treatment at no cost to eligible veterans. Providers must use FDA-cleared chambers meeting specific safety standards and be accredited by organizations like the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine. The program requires the department to implement rules within 12 months and ends after the pilot period concludes.
HB 5387 amends Michigan's "Mozelle senior or vulnerable adult medical alert act" to specifically include "missing veterans at risk" in the definition of persons eligible for emergency alerts. The bill defines a "missing veteran at risk" as an active-duty service member or veteran reported missing with a documented physical or mental health condition. This change directly affects veterans who go missing and have health conditions, ensuring they are covered under the same alert protocols as seniors and vulnerable adults. The law does not create new procedures but clarifies who qualifies for existing emergency reporting mechanisms.
HB 5150 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to update licensing requirements for respiratory therapists. It modifies existing sections and adds new provisions (18710 and 18712) related to licensure eligibility, education standards, and scope of practice. The bill directly affects respiratory therapists seeking or maintaining their licenses in Michigan by changing specific regulatory requirements. These changes aim to modernize the licensure process within the state's healthcare framework. The bill was introduced on October 28, 2025, and referred to the Health Policy Committee.
HB 4839 requires Michigan's medical assistance program (like Medicaid) to cover only generic drugs when a brand-name equivalent exists, unless a doctor specifically indicates otherwise on the prescription. Doctors can override this by writing "dispense as written" or "d.a.w." on a written prescription, initialing a preprinted statement allowing substitution, or verbally specifying brand-name use. This directly affects patients enrolled in Michigan's medical assistance program and healthcare providers writing prescriptions for covered medications. The bill aims to standardize coverage toward cost-effective generic drugs while preserving physician discretion in specific cases.
HB 5514, the "Preventing Restraints in Youth Transport Act," prohibits youth transportation companies from using visual (e.g., blindfolds), mechanical (e.g., handcuffs), or most physical restraints when moving minors to qualified residential treatment programs. Exceptions allow physical restraints only if immediate serious harm is likely, staff are trained, and restraints are used for the shortest time necessary. Violations carry civil fines up to $1,000. The bill directly affects transportation providers and the minors they transport during these journeys.
