Healthcare

passed · Michigan · Senate Apr 24, 2025

SB 5: Human services: medical services; compliance with the prescription drug cost and affordability review act; require. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 109o. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0003'25

Senate Bill 5 mandates that Michigan's medical assistance program, which includes Medicaid, must comply with section 12 of the "prescription drug cost and affordability review act," subject to federal law. This means the state's program for medical assistance will be required to follow specific rules related to prescription drug costs and affordability outlined in that separate act. The bill will only become effective if Senate Bill No. 3 of the 103rd Legislature is also passed into law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid compliance with prescription drug affordability rules, improving access to affordable medications for beneficiaries.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 20, 2025

HR 154: A resolution to urge Congress to uphold Medicaid patients’ right to provider choice by establishing a private right of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and urge the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to monitor state and federal actions affecting Medicaid’s provider-choice policies.

This resolution urges Congress to create a legal pathway allowing Medicaid patients to sue states that restrict their provider choice, following a Supreme Court ruling that removed this right. It also asks Michigan's health department to monitor state and federal policies affecting access to Medicaid providers, like clinics offering reproductive care. The resolution directly addresses 2.2 million Michigan Medicaid enrollees, particularly low-income, LGBTQ+, rural, and reproductive healthcare patients, who face potential barriers after the Medina v. Planned Parenthood Supreme Court decision. It does not create new law but requests specific actions to protect existing provider-choice policies. The resolution was introduced in August 2025 and referred to the Government Operations Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUrges legal pathway for Medicaid patients to sue over restricted provider choice, protecting access to care for vulnerable groups including low-income and reproductive healthcare patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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signed · Michigan · House Jul 29, 2026

HB 4779: Health facilities: other; surgical smoke plume evacuation plan; require. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding sec. 20187.

HB 4779 requires Michigan health facilities performing certain surgical procedures to implement smoke evacuation systems. It directly affects hospitals and surgical centers using heat-producing tools like lasers or electrosurgery, which generate harmful surgical smoke. The bill mandates facilities to develop policies ensuring a dedicated evacuation system captures and neutralizes smoke at the source before it reaches staff or patients' eyes or lungs. This policy change aims to protect healthcare workers and patients from exposure to potentially harmful smoke byproducts during procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates surgical smoke evacuation systems to protect staff/patients from harmful exposure during procedures, directly enhancing safety standards in healthcare facilities.95% confidence

in committee · Michigan · House Aug 21, 2025

HB 4789: Health: other; individualized investigational treatment for certain patients suffering from a life-threatening or severely debilitating illness; provide for. Amends title & secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 of 2014 PA 345 (MCL 333.26451 et seq.) & adds sec. 2a.

HB 4789 expands Michigan's "Right to Try Act" to specifically cover personalized experimental treatments based on a patient's genetic data (like gene therapies or custom vaccines). It allows eligible patients with advanced, life-threatening, or severely debilitating illnesses - who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments - to access these individualized treatments after obtaining written consent from their physician and providing detailed risk disclosures. The bill clarifies that manufacturers aren't required to provide such treatments but may charge for production costs, and it prohibits health insurers from denying coverage solely for recommending these treatments. This affects patients with serious conditions who qualify under the new definition of "individualized investigational treatment" and their healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to personalized experimental treatments for life-threatening conditions after exhausting FDA-approved options, strengthening healthcare access rights under Michigan's Right to Try Act.95% confidence

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 27, 2025

HB 4815: Human services: medical services; coverage for treatment of menopause and perimenopause symptoms and waiver of prior authorization for prescription drugs or treatments for menopause and perimenopause symptoms; require. Amends sec. 109h of 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.109h) & adds sec. 109t.

HB 4815 requires Michigan Medicaid to cover medically necessary treatments for menopause and perimenopause symptoms - including hormone replacement therapy and FDA-approved medications - without prior authorization. It prohibits Medicaid from requiring step therapy (e.g., trying other treatments first) for these medications. The bill directly affects Medicaid patients experiencing these symptoms by removing administrative barriers to care. Key provisions amend existing law to exempt these treatments from prior authorization rules and mandate coverage under the medical assistance program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid coverage for menopause treatments without prior authorization, removing access barriers and expanding coverage for a specific health condition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 27, 2025

HB 4814: Insurance: health insurers; coverage for treatment of menopause and perimenopause symptoms and waiver of prior authorization for prescription drugs or treatments for menopause and perimenopause symptoms; require. Amends 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.100 - 500.8302) by adding sec. 3406zz.

HB 4814 requires Michigan health insurers to cover medically necessary treatments for menopause and perimenopause (the transition period before menopause), including hormone replacement therapy approved by the FDA. Insurers cannot demand prior authorization, step therapy, or fail-first protocols for these treatments. The bill defines menopause as permanent cessation of menstruation and perimenopause as the transition period near the end of reproductive years. This directly affects all health insurance policyholders in Michigan who need these treatments, ensuring coverage without extra approval hurdles.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coverage for menopause/perimenopause treatments without prior authorization, expanding access to essential healthcare services and removing barriers to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 28, 2025

HB 4832: Health occupations: health professionals; licensure of anesthesiologist assistants; provide for. Amends secs. 7303a, 17001, 17011, 17501 & 17511 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7303a et seq.) & adds secs. 16325a, 17034, 17034a, 17034b, 17534, 17534a & 17534b.

HB 4832 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to establish a new licensure process for anesthesiologist assistants (AAs), directly affecting AAs seeking to practice in the state and the Michigan Board of Medicine. The bill adds new sections defining AA qualifications, supervision requirements, and scope of practice, while updating existing licensing statutes to include AAs as a distinct licensed profession. Key provisions require AAs to complete state-approved education programs and work under physician supervision, with specific standards for training and clinical responsibilities. This bill is procedural in nature, creating the regulatory framework for AA licensure rather than changing patient care standards. It was introduced on August 27, 2025, and referred to the Health Policy Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensure for anesthesiologist assistants, enabling expanded access to anesthesia services and supporting healthcare workforce capacity under Michigan's Public Health Code.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Public Health

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Sep 3, 2025

SB 516: Health: pharmaceuticals; ivermectin; allow over-the-counter access. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding secs. 17771 & 17771a.

SB 516 would allow Michigan pharmacists to provide ivermectin without a prescription, directly affecting pharmacists and patients seeking this medication. The bill requires that ivermectin sold over-the-counter must meet manufacturing standards and have clear labeling with dosage, contraindications, and safety information. It amends Michigan’s Public Health Code to add new sections (17771 and 17771a) enabling this access under pharmacist discretion. The bill is currently in committee after being introduced on September 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prescription barrier for ivermectin, directly improving patient medication access under pharmacist discretion per bill's OTC provision.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed both · Michigan · House May 19, 2026

HB 4839: Human services: medical services; requirement to prescribe generic medications; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 109z.

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.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates generic drug coverage by default in Medicaid, restricting brand-name use unless overridden, limiting patient access to brand options without physician override.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Sep 9, 2025

SB 334: Law enforcement: training; mental health and law enforcement response training; require for law enforcement officers. Amends title of 1965 PA 203 (MCL 28.601 - 28.615) & adds secs. 9f & 9g. TIE BAR WITH: SB 341'25

SB 334 requires all Michigan law enforcement officers to complete mandatory training on responding to mental health crises. It amends Michigan's Mental Health Law (MCL 28.601-28.615) by adding new sections that establish this training requirement. The bill directly affects every law enforcement officer in the state, mandating specific protocols for de-escalating situations involving mental health challenges. This policy change shifts training standards from voluntary to required under state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates mental health crisis training for officers to de-escalate situations, reducing use of force and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like improved police accountability.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health crisis training for law enforcement officers, improving crisis response protocols and aligning with mental health service support goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health

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