House Health Policy March 11 2026: counselor license revisions, substance abuse program rule limits

The Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association weighs in on the first 3 bills.

Michigan Counselors:

We, the board of MMHCA, want to inform you of three pieces of legislation now before the House Health Policy Committee that we fully support: HB 4902, HB 4903, HB 4904.

What the HB 4902–4904 Package Means for Michigan Counselors -

The Professional Disclosure Statement (PDS) filing requirement has long been a source of confusion and extra work for Michigan counselors. We are the only mental health profession in the state required to create, submit and keep current a special document with LARA - even though the Public Health Code and the ACA Code of Ethics already require us to provide clients with clear informed consent and client protection information.

The new legislative package (HB 4902–4904) fixes this problem.

Why This Is Good for Counselors -
- Ends a requirement that applies to no other Michigan health profession.
- Removes the burden of submitting and resubmitting PDS forms to LARA when circumstances change.
- Eliminates barriers for new graduates who currently must create a PDS before they even have a job.
- Lets counselors use clear, consistent informed‑consent documents that meet ethical and legal standards across mental health professions.
- Reduces paperwork and confusion—without reducing client protection.

Why This Is Good for Clients -

Clients will still receive all essential information through informed consent.
- Eliminates duplicate documents.
- Ensures a more consistent experience across all Michigan mental health professions.
- Keeps the focus on high‑quality, client communication - not state required documentation.

Our Position

MMHCA supports removing the outdated PDS filing requirement with the state; while recognizing that robust ethical standards for informed consent and client protection have long been established and remain fully in place. This change modernizes the law and reduces unnecessary administrative burden.

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘: 𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗟𝗣𝗖𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘄. 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀.

If you have questions please email us at MMHCABOARD@MMHCANOW.ORG.

In Service,
MMHCA’s Board of Directors
Christopher DeBoer, President
Krystin Sankey, Treasurer
Carol Berger, Secretary
Members at Large:
Dr. Stephanie Burns
Dr. Joy Creel
Dr. Larry Pfaff
Amy Szaraz
Dr. Elizabeth Teklinski
Steve Wheeler

Round 2, with two additions.

Significantly, each coverage mandate causes a 4% increase in insurance premiums.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026      9:00 AM

AGENDA

HB 4902 (Rep. VanderWall)
Health occupations: counselors; limited license option for certain counselors; eliminate.

HB 4903 (Rep. Meerman)
Health occupations: counselors; relicensure requirements; modify.

HB 4904 (Rep. DeBoer)
Health occupations: counselors; professional disclosure statement requirements; eliminate.

HB 5074 (Rep. Thompson)
Health occupations: mental health care professionals; number of renewals of temporary or limited licenses; modify.

HB 5251 (Rep. VanderWall)
Human services: medical services; coverage for prescribed pediatric extended care; require.

HB 5252 (Rep. Rogers)
Health facilities: licensing; licensing of prescribed pediatric extended care facilities; provide for.

OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE