Oct 16 Sen HHS Agenda: more OB mandates, regulations, + another subsidy

“Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”

- Ronald Reagan.

Step right up and take a look, folks. You've got everything Reagan was talking about, right here.

Wednesday, October 16, 2024  1:00 p.m.

AGENDA

SB 818 Sen. Geiss Records; death; commission to investigate racial disparities related to maternal health; create.

SB 819 Sen. Geiss Civil rights; general discrimination; reporting procedures for mistreatment during perinatal period; provide for.

SB 820 Sen. Cavanagh Health facilities; hospitals; certain policies on patients who are giving birth; require a hospital to adopt.

SB 821 Sen. Cavanagh Insurance; health insurers; insurance; insurers; provide the department of health and human services information on medical malpractice insurance relating to perinatal care services; require on request.

SB 822 Sen. Anthony Probate; patient advocates; withholding life-sustaining treatment for a patient who is pregnant; allow.

SB 823 Sen. Chang Civil rights; sex discrimination and harassment; prohibition of sex discrimination in places of public accommodation and public services; extend to prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy or lactating status.

SB 825 Sen. Anthony Health; occupations; Michigan essential health provider recruitment strategy; expand to include midwives.

And any other business properly before the committee.

The irony of subsidizing midwives is that it proves the lie of Michigan's midwife license mandate. Then-majority Republicans passed the bill during the 2016 lame duck session. Industry advocates had pressed the narrative that licensing would enable insurance billing, and attract more midwives to Michigan.

If that all seems a bit depressing, take a break and vote for your choice of nominees for this year's MHF Defender Award. We'll announce the winner in about 2 weeks.