This bill establishes the Commodities and Emergency Services and Supplies Pricing Protection Act to stop businesses from raising prices unfairly during a declared state of emergency. It specifically targets sales of building materials, food, emergency supplies, medical items, and general goods, defining an illegal price hike as an increase of more than 20% compared to pre-emergency rates unless the seller can prove higher costs. The law prohibits charging or offering these items at excessively high prices and grants prosecutors the power to investigate violations by demanding documents and testimony from suspected violators.
This bill amends Michigan's insurance code to require health insurers to provide consumers with a plain English summary of their policies and detailed information upon request. The legislation mandates that these summaries clearly explain coverage benefits, costs, exceptions, and renewal terms, while also ensuring policies are printed in a readable font size without highlighting specific text. Additionally, the bill requires insurers to disclose provider network details, professional credentials, and financial arrangements when asked, and it sets specific deadlines for delivering this information to applicants and policyholders.
SB 974 updates Michigan's insurance code to align with the state's health insurance exchange by clarifying definitions for roles such as navigators and certified application counselors. The bill establishes strict rules requiring these individuals to be state-certified before they can receive funding or assist consumers with health plan enrollment. It explicitly prohibits them from selling insurance or recommending specific plans, ensuring they provide only impartial information about available coverage options. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the state director implement a certification program including background checks and privacy training to protect consumer data.
This bill directs the state insurance director to work with the Michigan health insurance exchange to officially certify qualified health and dental plans. It requires the director to create specific rules for this certification process while maintaining the authority to regulate insurance businesses and exempt these plans from certain laws. The legislation defines qualified plans using existing terms from the Michigan health insurance exchange act and includes a provision that it only takes effect if a related companion bill is also passed.
This bill directs Michigan's department of insurance to request federal permission to create a state-run reinsurance program that helps stabilize health insurance markets. If approved, the program would allow insurers to recover some costs for high-risk patients, potentially lowering premiums and expanding coverage options. The legislation requires the department to share draft plans with the public and lawmakers before submitting a final application to the federal government. Implementation of the program depends on the successful approval of a companion bill, SB 0973, which must also be enacted for this measure to take effect.
This bill establishes a new nonprofit corporation to operate Michigan's state-based health insurance exchange, which will serve as a marketplace for consumers and small businesses to purchase qualified health plans. The legislation creates a 12-member board to govern the exchange, with members appointed from the insurance industry, consumer advocates, and public officials to oversee its operations. Key provisions include setting up rules for conflict of interest, defining roles for state agencies, and enabling a system for direct enrollment assistance to help consumers navigate the marketplace.
SB 451 prohibits consumer reporting agencies in Michigan from including medical debt in credit reports, protecting residents from negative credit impacts due to unpaid medical bills. The law requires collection agencies to disclose this restriction in writing to consumers and forbids them from claiming medical debt will appear on credit reports unless the debt relates to a mortgage exceeding the federal conforming loan limit ($766,550 for 2024). It directly affects consumers who receive medical care but have unpaid bills, as their credit scores will no longer be harmed by such debt. The law also provides legal remedies, including damages and attorney fees, for violations.
SB 450 amends Michigan law to require public hospital boards to follow the Hospital Financial Assistance Act when setting patient payment policies for non-charity care. It directly affects county public hospitals by making their financial assistance policies subject to existing state standards under the Hospital Financial Assistance Act. The bill updates Section 17 of the 1913 Public Act 350 to clarify that hospital trustees' authority over patient fees is governed by this act, ensuring consistent financial assistance rules across public hospitals.
SB 449 requires Michigan hospitals to create and implement financial assistance programs for uninsured patients and those with high medical debt relative to income. Specifically, hospitals must offer up to 100% discounts for patients earning at or below 350% of federal poverty guidelines, base eligibility on objective income metrics, and publish program details clearly on bills, statements, and websites in plain language. Hospitals must also report annual data on program usage and debt relief to the state health department by 2027, with violations subject to $10,000 civil fines. The law directly affects uninsured patients and hospital financial operations, aiming to reduce barriers to care for low-income individuals.
SB 707 amends Michigan's licensing rules for marriage and family therapists. It updates educational requirements (e.g., specific coursework in family studies and therapy methodology), increases supervised clinical experience standards (300 direct client hours with 1:5 supervision ratio), and adds a "limited license" pathway for trainees. The bill restricts titles like "marriage counselor" or "family therapist" to only licensed professionals, preventing unlicensed individuals from using these terms. It directly affects therapists seeking or renewing licenses, training programs, and the public who rely on qualified providers for these services.
