Senate Bill 34 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to broaden the definition of "sex." For employment situations, it clarifies that "sex" includes pregnancy, lactating status, childbirth, termination of a pregnancy, or related medical conditions. For places of public accommodation and public service, the bill specifies that "sex" includes pregnancy or lactating status. This bill aims to expand civil rights protections for individuals based on these defined statuses.
SB 38 amends Michigan's Social Welfare Act to explicitly include perinatal and gynecological services in Medicaid coverage for eligible individuals. The bill updates Section 109 (MCL 400.109) to require the department to provide guidelines ensuring these services are covered under the state's medical assistance plan. This directly affects Medicaid recipients in Michigan who need care related to pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery, or women's health conditions. The change ensures these services are formally recognized in coverage rules, aligning with existing Medicaid requirements for other medical services.
Senate Bill 39 requires Michigan's medical assistance program to provide coverage for remote ultrasound procedures and fetal nonstress tests. This allows patients to receive these services in their residence or other off-site locations through telemedicine. The bill mandates the department to update reimbursement rules for fee-for-service and managed care plans, enabling payment for these remote services using established CPT codes when the same standard of care is met. Reimbursement for these remote services is contingent on using HIPAA-compliant, FDA-approved digital technology for data transmission and FDA-cleared monitoring solutions for at-home use.
SB 37 requires Michigan health insurers to cover gynecological and perinatal care services provided by in-network physicians, certified nurse midwives, or midwives at in-network facilities or at home. This applies to any health insurance policy that already includes coverage for these services. The bill defines key terms like "certified nurse midwife" and "midwife" to clarify which providers and settings qualify for the required coverage. The policy change ensures patients using in-network providers for these services have access without gaps in coverage.
Senate Bill 36 expands Michigan's essential health provider recruitment strategy to include midwives. The bill amends the public health code, adding midwives to the list of "designated professionals" eligible for a state-administered debt repayment program. Under this program, midwives who have incurred educational debt may receive repayment for their loans or expenses. In exchange, they must commit to practicing full-time in a state-designated health resource shortage area for a specified period.
SB 31 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to require hospitals to adopt written policies covering specific patient rights during childbirth. It directly affects all Michigan hospitals licensed under the Public Health Code and their patients receiving care while pregnant and in labor. The key new provision mandates that hospitals must stabilize a pregnant patient's condition before terminating care if the patient refuses treatment, ensuring they cannot be discharged without medical stabilization. This adds to existing requirements for hospitals to clearly outline patient rights like privacy, access to medical records, and the right to refuse treatment in their written policies.
Senate Bill 32 amends Michigan's insurance code to require insurers offering medical malpractice policies to annually provide specific information. These insurers must submit data about their policies related to perinatal care services to the Department in a manner it determines. Within 60 days, the Department must then forward this information to the Department of Health and Human Services. This data sharing is intended to support a study required under the public health code. The bill will not take effect unless Senate Bill No. 29 also becomes law.
SB 94 prohibits drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors from restricting 340B program pharmacies from accessing or receiving 340B drugs, which are discounted medications for safety-net healthcare providers. It requires 340B entities (like community health centers) to submit annual compliance reports starting in 2026, including program audits and community impact details. Additionally, drug manufacturers must report price increases exceeding 15% for drugs costing over $40 per treatment course, including cost data and patent details. These provisions directly affect pharmaceutical companies, participating pharmacies, and healthcare providers enrolled in the federal 340B drug pricing program.
SB 60 removes the expiration date (sunset) from Michigan's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. This compact allows physicians licensed in one participating state to more easily practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each. The bill directly affects physicians seeking to practice across state lines, particularly in neighboring states that are part of the compact. It does not change Michigan's physician licensing requirements within the state but extends the existing agreement to continue enabling interstate medical practice.
