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• The individual completed an application for an out-of-state telehealth license for the practice of a health profession across state lines and submitted the requisite fees as outlined by LARA. • An individual who has been issued an out-of-state telehealth license to practice a health profession across state lines shall not open an office in this state, meet in this state with patients, or receive calls in this state from patients unless the individual is licensed to practice a health profession. In addition to MSMS and MHA’s opposition, LARA is also strongly opposed to the bill. Talking Points • While physicians see tremendous value in expanding access to health care through telemedicine, allowing outof-state providers to deliver these services without licensure or oversight requirements raises significant concerns about patient safety and the potential effects on Michigan’s health care marketplace. • With the growing use of commercial telemedicine services, provider-patient encounters are now occurring outside of normal care settings. While convenient, this can lead to fragmented care when there is not an established relationship between the physician and the patient. o An established provider-patient relationship should be required so that physicians can use telemedicine to provide quality care for a patient’s existing condition and ensure necessary follow-up care is delivered. • Telemedicine providers should be licensed to practice medicine in Michigan to ensure Michigan patients are protected from fraud, liability and privacy issues. Current Status House Bill 4355 narrowly passed the House on March 24, 2021, and is now under consideration by the Senate Health Policy & Human Services Committee. A hearing has not been scheduled at this time. • COVID-19 – House Bill 4471 House Bill 4471 would create the Informed Consent in the Workplace Act, which would “prohibit discrimination against
an employee or volunteer who declines or has not received certain vaccinations, including for COVID-19. An employer also could not require the employee or volunteer to wear a mask in the workplace or disclose to the public that the employee or volunteer has declined or not received a vaccination.” The bill also would prohibit employers from requiring vaccinations against the flu, tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis, and employees could sue and collect damages against an employer who violates this proposed law. Specifically, under HB 4471, an employer could not do any of the following: • Discharge, fail or refuse to hire or recruit, or otherwise discriminate against a qualified individual with regard to employment, compensation, or a term, condition, or privilege of employment (or threaten to do so) because the individual declines or has not received a specified vaccination. • Require a qualified individual who declines or has not received a specified vaccination to do either of the following: o Wear a surgical face mask as a consequence of declining or not receiving a specified vaccination. o Display on the qualified individual’s person a mark that distinguishes him or her from others who received or did not decline a specified vaccination. o Disclose to the public that the qualified individual has declined or not received a specified vaccination. • Retaliate or discriminate against a person because the person has done or is about to do any of the following: o File a complaint under this act. o Testify, assist, or participate in an investigation, proceeding or action concerning a violation of this act. o Oppose a violation of this act. Talking Points • The vaccines named in House Bill 4471 are proven to be safe and effective at preventing infection and reducing the severity of illness. continued on page 29
Health Can’t Wait is a coalition of patients, physicians and health care providers dedicated to putting Michigan patients first and ending delays in patients’ access to health care. This past spring, the Senate unanimously passed SB 247 - prior authorization reform that reduces the red tape patients and providers are forced to navigate. The bill has now moved on to the House of Representatives for consideration. To be as proactive and productive as possible in the lead-up to this critical fall legislative session, we are asking for your help in reaching out to these lawmakers on SB 247.
Making direct contact with Representatives on this issue will go a long way towards helping us duplicate the success we experienced with this legislation in the Senate. We have also produced two new action alerts - one for patients and one for providers - that make it easier for an individual to quickly contact their Representative and communicate the importance of the reforms outlined in SB 247.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE NOW AND URGE THEM TO VOTE YES ON SB 247 THIS FALL. 28
The Bulletin | October 2021
