This bill modifies Michigan's Public Health Code to update how limited license counselors are defined and to clarify relicensure requirements for health occupations. It specifically revises sections related to the practice of counseling, including definitions of clinical methods and the scope of services provided by licensed and limited license counselors. The legislation also adjusts provisions regarding the release of medical records during child abuse investigations and clarifies when certain professional privileges do not apply. These changes aim to align the state's regulations with current standards for counseling practices and ensure clear guidelines for professionals in the field.
Senate Bill 1094 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to update the relicensure rules for licensed psychologists. The bill allows individuals holding a master's degree in psychology to apply for a limited license, provided they have at least one year of supervised postgraduate experience in a healthcare setting. These limited licenses can be renewed and include specific restrictions, such as requiring supervision by a fully licensed psychologist and prohibiting public advertising that suggests independent practice. Additionally, the bill clarifies how temporary licenses for students and those gaining experience count toward renewal requirements.
This bill updates Michigan's public health code to standardize the information required on professional licensure and renewal applications for healthcare workers. It mandates that applicants provide their full legal name and Social Security number, while ensuring these numbers are not printed on the final license or registration certificate. The legislation also expands disclosure requirements by asking applicants to report felony convictions, specific misdemeanor offenses, out-of-state disciplinary actions, hospital employment details, and written policies for medical record management. Exceptions are made for individuals who are legally exempt from obtaining a Social Security number or who have religious objections to disclosing it.
This bill removes the requirement for health professionals in Michigan to demonstrate a working knowledge of the English language as a condition for obtaining or maintaining a license. It directly affects individuals seeking licensure or registration in health professions by eliminating the specific clause that mandated this language proficiency. The change is made by deleting the relevant provision from the Public Health Code, ensuring that future rules cannot be created to reinstate this requirement. The bill does not alter other existing licensing standards such as age, education, or criminal background checks.
The Medicare-X Choice Act of 2026 creates a new public health plan called the Medicare Exchange health plan, which would be available to individuals and small groups starting in 2028. The bill establishes two dedicated funds to finance the plan's creation and technology updates, appropriating $1 billion each for fiscal year 2027. Under the plan, the government would set premiums to cover full costs, and reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals would generally match current Medicare rates, with potential increases for rural areas. The legislation also requires health care providers who participate in traditional Medicare to also accept patients in this new plan, while prohibiting insurers from placing additional restrictions on enrollees. Additionally, the bill expands tax credits for people buying insurance, fixes the "family glitch" that currently limits subsidy eligibility for some workers, and authorizes the government to negotiate prices for prescription drugs.
The Secure Drug Supply Chain Act of 2026 aims to protect the U.S. pharmaceutical supply by preventing the importation of counterfeit or unsafe drugs from countries like China and others designated as adversarial. It requires drug manufacturers to report quarterly details about the origins of their active ingredients and key starting materials, specifically highlighting those sourced from China or other foreign countries of concern. The bill also strengthens enforcement by allowing the government to ban imports from facilities using forced labor or violating sanctions, and it mandates the destruction of refused drugs that pose significant public health risks. Additionally, the law establishes new reporting requirements to track supply chain vulnerabilities and directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to issue regulations and guidance to implement these measures.
This bill creates a new program to speed up the approval process for specific over-the-counter drugs that could offer significant public health benefits. Drug companies can request this "priority" status for new medications intended for conditions that currently require a prescription, provided the drugs are new or contain active ingredients never seen in nonprescription products. If approved, the FDA will assign senior staff and specialized teams to work closely with the companies, offering faster guidance and more efficient review schedules while maintaining the same safety and effectiveness standards. The program includes a requirement to publish a list of eligible health conditions and will expire in September 2032 unless renewed by Congress.
The Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026 establishes a funding mechanism to help states and water treatment facilities respond to emergencies that pose a significant danger to public health, such as sewer overflows or cybersecurity incidents. Under this bill, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator can provide grants and technical assistance for activities that prevent or mitigate health risks but would be too costly for ratepayers to fund on their own. The legislation authorizes $50 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support these emergency efforts and also increases the existing funding for drinking water emergencies during the same period.
