HB 4133, the "Access to Health Facilities Act," prohibits physical obstruction, intimidation, or violence targeting individuals accessing or providing reproductive health services at licensed health facilities, including abortion care. It criminalizes actions like blocking entrances, threatening patients, or damaging property at these facilities, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors (up to 1 year jail, $10,000 fine) to felonies (up to life in prison for causing death). The law also allows civil lawsuits for $5,000 per violation and civil fines up to $25,000 for violators. It explicitly protects First Amendment-protected protests but does not affect local abortion regulations or existing protest laws.
SB 30, known as the "Biased and Unjust Care Reporting Act," requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to collect reports from individuals who are pregnant or in the postpartum period. These reports concern gynecological or perinatal care that does not meet standards for being culturally congruent, unbiased, just, or dignified. The DHHS will use a validated tool to identify instances of "obstetric violence" and "obstetric racism," as defined in the bill. The department will then provide a report containing de-identified data on the incidence and prevalence of these issues to the governor and relevant legislative committees, without identifying specific healthcare providers.
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.
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.
This bill requires Michigan health insurers to cover group prenatal care services for all policyholders. It defines these services as evidence-based, group-based prenatal visits in a family-centered setting that include health assessments, social support, education, and peer interaction. The law applies to all health insurance policies issued in Michigan, directly affecting pregnant individuals and their insurers by mandating coverage for this specific care model.
SB 415 requires Michigan's medical assistance program to cover group prenatal care services beginning on the bill's effective date. This directly affects pregnant individuals enrolled in Michigan's medical assistance program (like Medicaid) by mandating coverage for a specific type of care. The bill defines "group prenatal care services" as evidence-based, group-based visits that include health assessments, social support, education, and peer interaction in a family-centered setting. These services aim to support pregnant people through shared experiences and structured care, extending into early childhood.
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.
HB 4703 requires health insurers in Michigan to cover group prenatal care services for policyholders. This directly affects health insurers offering coverage in the state and pregnant individuals seeking prenatal care. The bill defines "group prenatal care services" as evidence-based, group-based visits that include health assessments, social support, education, and peer interaction in a family-centered setting. Insurers must now provide this coverage for group prenatal care under their health insurance policies.
