SB 1117 amends the Michigan Mental Health Code to update and clarify the definitions of key terms used in state psychiatric hospitals and related services. The bill directly affects individuals receiving mental health or substance use disorder services, as well as the facilities and staff that provide them. It revises definitions for categories such as serious emotional disturbance, serious mental illness, telemedicine, and transfer facilities to ensure consistency with current medical standards and operational realities. By standardizing these terms, the legislation aims to improve clarity in how services are delivered and funded across the state's mental health system.
This bill directs the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to expand managed care options for Medicaid recipients, giving them a choice among contracted health plans while ensuring access to primary care and preventive services. It requires new enrollees to schedule an initial appointment with a primary care provider within 60 days and mandates that the department track plan compliance with this requirement. The legislation also establishes financial incentives for providers and enrollees to encourage the use of high-value services, promote generic prescriptions, and detect fraud, while allowing telemedicine from out-of-state providers. Additionally, the bill outlines a performance bonus system for health plans based on specific health equity and outcome targets, and sets rules for automatically moving individuals out of skilled nursing facilities after 45 days of care.
This bill prohibits health care providers in Michigan from charging facility fees for certain services starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects hospitals, urgent care clinics, and other health facilities that currently bill patients for facility fees separate from professional medical fees. The law bans facility fees for telemedicine services, services provided in non-hospital facilities, and outpatient hospital services except in emergency rooms or during observation periods. Providers must clearly identify facility fees on bills and inform patients about the fee amount before services are rendered. Patients who believe they were improperly charged can sue for damages, with court costs and attorney fees awarded to successful plaintiffs.
SB 772 requires health insurers in Michigan to reimburse telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits, using the same billing codes. It prohibits insurers from mandating face-to-face visits for services that can be safely provided via telemedicine, as determined by the treating healthcare professional. This applies to all health insurance policies covering telehealth services, directly affecting insurers, healthcare providers, and patients using telehealth. The bill ensures telehealth coverage parity without adding new requirements for providers or altering patient cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles). It modifies existing insurance code language to standardize reimbursement practices for telemedicine.
HB 5455 enacts Michigan's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, allowing physicians licensed in participating states to more easily obtain licenses in Michigan and other member states. This directly affects physicians seeking to practice across state lines, particularly through telehealth or in rural areas with healthcare shortages. The bill establishes a streamlined "expedited license" process for eligible physicians who meet specific criteria (like holding a full license in another member state and having no disciplinary history), while requiring physicians to follow the licensing rules of the state where the patient is located during care. It does not change Michigan's existing medical practice laws but creates a new pathway for multi-state licensure through a standardized compact process.
HB 4591 allows Michigan to join a multi-state agreement (the "counseling compact") for licensed professional counselors. This compact enables Michigan-licensed counselors to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses, while other states recognize Michigan licenses under uniform requirements. The agreement requires participating states to share disciplinary and licensure information to protect public safety, supports military spouses relocating with active duty service members, and facilitates telehealth services to improve access to counseling. It directly affects licensed professional counselors seeking to practice across state lines and expands access for residents in participating states.
HB 4558 allows contact lens examinations and evaluations to be conducted via telemedicine (e.g., video call) in addition to in-person visits, but only under specific conditions. It requires that patients have had an in-person exam within the past two years, maintains the same standard of care as in-person visits, and prohibits telemedicine for initial prescriptions or changes to refractive power. The bill affects contact lens patients, optometrists, and ophthalmologists who write prescriptions, ensuring telemedicine options are available for renewals without compromising safety. Existing requirements for valid prescriptions - including detailed information, expiration dates, and provider credentials - remain unchanged.
HB 4905 amends Michigan's licensing requirements for marriage and family therapists to explicitly allow virtual supervision via secure technology during training. It directly affects individuals seeking licensure who must complete supervised clinical hours, permitting them to meet the 300-hour practicum and 1,000-hour post-degree experience requirements through real-time video sessions instead of requiring in-person sessions only. The bill modifies specific sections of the Public Health Code (MCL 333.16909) to clarify that supervision via secure video technology qualifies, as long as it enables direct, contemporaneous interaction. This change aligns licensing standards with modern telehealth practices while maintaining the same hour requirements and supervision ratios. The bill does not alter the total hours needed or the qualifications of supervisors.
Senate Bill 316 amends Michigan's Mental Health Code, focusing on the assessment process for individuals considered for mental health hospitalization. It requires community mental health services programs' preadmission screening units to assess individuals within three hours of a hospital's request for admission to specific types of hospitals. If the screening unit cannot meet this deadline, another clinically qualified individual may perform the assessment, with the screening unit responsible for the costs. The bill also allows for telehealth services for these assessments and details the process for obtaining a second opinion if hospitalization is denied.
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.
