- Kaiser Permanente names SVP, Fresno service area manager
- Nebraska hospital CEO resigns amid allegations of $38K in improper spending
- Northwell’s direct contracting business wants to ‘link up’ with other health systems
- PDS Health among 1st to deploy Epic-integrated AI platform
- CommonSpirit’s 5 targets for judging payer prior auth reform — and its Humana milestone
- LifeBridge names division president
- Private equity struggles in healthcare amid mounting pressures: 5 notes for dentistry
- Who’s actually winning the fight for ASC ownership?
- Why some ASCs are buying their own anesthesia groups
- Hospital Sisters Health System names chief technology officer
- Top Medicare Advantage plans for member satisfaction in 2026: JD Power
- How a 12-hospital system saved millions with an inventory overhaul
- Corporate medicine is burning out 90% of employed physicians: 10 survey findings
- HCA Florida hospital names assistant CFO
- GE HealthCare taps new CFO
- 6-property outpatient portfolio acquired
- Patients deserve every evidence-based option for mental healthcare
- 10 anesthesia controversies in 2026
- The $314K cost of employing a physician
- Who’s driving physician M&A in 2026? 5 deals to know
- 5 ways insurers are undercutting anesthesia payments: ASA
- Prior GLP-1 use doesn’t affect bariatric surgery results: 6 things to know
- Statement on Regulation Crypto Assets: Fit-for-purpose Exemptions for Crypto Market Innovation
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- Statement on Regulation Crypto Assets
- Dental therapy program enrollment up 533% in 5 years
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- Surgery Partners ditches its $200M M&A target in favor of de novo growth: 5 things to know
- The dental specialties DSOs will prioritize next
- Statement on Commencement of Appointment Process for Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Seat
- Dental school enrollment in the 10 states with the most dental shortage areas
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- Ballmer Institute lands $125M to expand child behavioral health training nationwide
- Judge weighs whether man charged with killing dentist can act as own attorney
- FDA Seeks Public Feedback to Inform Regulatory Approach for Generative AI-Enabled Medical Devices
- Included Health to offer Carrum specialty care for alternative plan members
- 52 behavioral health executive moves to know
- Hospital performance improves in June, but lags 2025
- University of Toledo gets nearly $2M to support behavioral health workforce
- CTA reporting requirements eliminated for most dental practices: 5 things to know
- National Alliance on Mental Illness names chief medical officer
- Pennsylvania opens 24/7 behavioral health crisis center
- Cyber criminals target DSOs, dental groups: 3 updates
- OpenAI boosts mental health safeguards for teens
- UnitedHealthcare expands behavioral coaching to 13 million members
- Kindergarten Vaccine Exemptions Hit Record High, New CDC Data Shows
- Loneliness Is A Health Crisis, But Doctors Alone Can't Cure It, Analysis Argues
- Ousted OHSU Healthcare CEO files lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, discrimination
- JD Power: Member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans continues to slide
- AMA applauds updated CMS prior authorization reporting guidance
- Constipation In Space: A New Study Provides Answers
- Social Media Beauty Trends May Up Teens' Exposure To Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals
- HIPAA-compliant marketing platform Ours Privacy lands $15M amid growing pixel concerns
- Pharma commercialization partner Valeris brings in new strategy chief
- Biokin bispecific ADC iza-bren hits goal in lung cancer trial, boosting case for BMS’ global test
- CSL shares up 17% as immunoglobulin boost points to signs of recovery
- R1 acquiring Humata Health to bolster AI-powered prior authorizations
- Revance hires Janelle Wichmann as chief marketing officer of skincare unit
- CMI adopts orphan drug field with dedicated center of excellence
- Waist Size Is Accurate Way To Gauge Unhealthy Excess Weight, Study Says
- Panel Offers First Guidelines For Using E-Cigarettes To Help Smokers Quit
- Celcuity keeps cool amid questions about Revtorpyk launch timing
- Newsom Promotes Affordable Insulin, But California's Generic Label Off To A Slow Start
- What Geriatric Emergency Departments Do Differently
- Drive for Nuclear Power Boosts Uranium Industry — And Tribal Health Concerns in Southwest
- Rural primary care company Hopscotch clinches $53M to expand beyond NC
- Eurofins expands operations to meet growing high-potency API demand
- 24 new behavioral health projects to know
- Four health systems, including Ochsner and Denver Health, go live with Epic's real-time prior authorization checks
- 8 new psychiatric residency programs to know
- DocGo agrees to acquire virtual care provider Hicuity Health, assumes $52M debt
- Papa, eternalHealth expand partnership around Plus platform
- Happy Health secures $75M to expand AI-powered care in the home starting with sleep apnea
- As healthcare costs weigh on patients, states could play a bigger role, report finds
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- EyePoint shares plummet after phase 3 stumble for AMD drug-device combo Duravyu
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- Sanofi to lay off 229 Blueprint Medicines staffers, close Cambridge offices following acquisition
- Whoop expands Advanced Labs to non-members, adds Grail’s multi-cancer detection test to lineup
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- Innovaccer, Mastek ink strategic partnership to scale agentic AI in healthcare globally
- Sandoz strikes $322M biosimilars deal with Shanghai Henlius
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Michigan healthcare freedom community forum
Earned Wage Access (EWA) is touted as a crucial benefit for healthcare workers that can lead to better patient care. Claims include reducing overtime burnout and improving staff retention.
These glittering accolades come from the new EWA industry, so color me skeptical - especially regarding the "free" claim. (One mentions ATM-style fees.)
No one claims it increases wages, though that is implied. In reality, it merely gives early access to them. To my mind, the time and expense of implementing this financial switcheroo might have better effect if directed to a simple wage increase.
This week's enormous agenda sports 24 bills, 13 of which impact healthcare. Twelve constitute the package for earned wage access. The remaining one requires transparency for state reports via website.
I've italicized bills without healthcare impact. As always, I'd love to know more. Please comment if you have information to add, especially perspective from these service industries.
Thursday, April 30, 2026 9:00 AM
AGENDA
HB 5535 (Rep. Alexander)
Occupations: plumbers; providing plumbing services while serving as local inspector; allow.HB 5551 (Rep. Tisdel)
Occupations: plumbers; requirements for backflow prevention testing; modify.HB 5558 (Rep. Bierlein)
Businesses: other; regulation and licensing of earned wage access service providers; provide for.HB 5559 (Rep. Bierlein)
Financial institutions: money transmitters; money transmission services act; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5560 (Rep. Bierlein)
Labor: hours and wages; regulation of wages and fringe benefits; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5561 (Rep. Liberati)
Consumer credit: collection practices; regulation of collection agencies in the occupational code; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5562 (Rep. Liberati)
Financial institutions: other; definition of financial licensing acts in the consumer financial services act; modify to include the earned wage access services act.HB 5563 (Rep. Liberati)
Consumer credit: collection practices; regulation of collection practices; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5564 (Rep. Martin)
Civil procedure: other; regulation and licensing of earned wage access service providers; provide for.HB 5565 (Rep. Martin)
Financial institutions: other; deferred presentment service transactions act; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5566 (Rep. Alexander)
Financial institutions: generally; credit reform act; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5567 (Rep. Alexander)
Financial institutions: generally; regulatory loan act; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5568 (Rep. Herzberg)
Financial institutions: generally; 1966 PA 326; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5569 (Rep. Herzberg)
Financial institutions: generally; criminal usury; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5755 (Rep. Aragona)
Legislature: reports; reports that state agencies provide to the legislature; require the department of technology, management, and budget to publish on a website.HB 5832 (Rep. Hoadley)
Gaming: other; authority to obtain criminal history records and fingerprints; provide for.HB 5833 (Rep. Liberati)
Gaming: other; authority to obtain criminal history records and fingerprints; provide for.HB 5834 (Rep. Aragona)
Gaming: other; authority to obtain criminal history records and fingerprints; provide for.HB 5805 (Rep. Aragona)
Housing: housing development authority; housing opportunity tax credit program; establish and administer.HB 5806 (Rep. Grant)
Individual income tax: credit; housing opportunity tax credits; create.HB 5807 (Rep. Aragona)
Insurance: other; housing opportunity credits against the retaliatory tax; provide for.HB 5356 (Rep. Schuette)
Vehicles: title; requirements for transfer of title by a dealer; provide for.HB 5045 (Rep. BeGole)
Housing: other; redemption of premises; modify.HB 5046 (Rep. O'Neal)
Civil procedure: foreclosure; recording of deed; modify.OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
Good citizen and legislator oversight demands state transparency. In theory, Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget (DTMB) provides state government with IT and other services, including online access to state reports.
In reality, DTMB sets records for cost overruns, and this legislation probably exists for a reason.
This Thursday, DTMB (state reporting) is back + a new haircut license and MANY non-health bills indicated by italics. Relevant bills appeared lost in the sea of italics, so I've marked them in bold font.
Thursday, May 21, 2026 9:00 AM
AGENDA
HB 5755 (Rep. Aragona)
Legislature: reports; reports that state agencies provide to the legislature; require the department of technology, management, and budget to publish on a website.HB 5105 (Rep. Wendzel)
Crimes: penalties; penalties regarding certain crimes involving marihuana; modify.HB 5107 (Rep. Hoadley)
Marihuana: penalties and remedies; marihuana for personal use and possession; modify allowable amounts of.HB 5902 (Rep. Rigas)
Occupations: licensing fees; licensing fees for a hairdresser license; establish.HB 5805 (Rep. Aragona)
Housing: housing development authority; housing opportunity tax credit program; establish and administer.HB 5806 (Rep. Grant)
Individual income tax: credit; housing opportunity tax credits; create.HB 5807 (Rep. Aragona)
Insurance: other; housing opportunity credits against the retaliatory tax; provide for.HB 5472 (Rep. Aragona)
Tobacco: distribution; name and address of out-of-state purchaser; allow to be placed on the largest unit of packaging.HB 5931 (Rep. Aragona)
Tobacco: other; cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores; modify affidavit submission process for.HB 5932 (Rep. Robinson)
Construction: permits; procedures to modify building permits after issuance; provide for building permits issued by the department.HB 5933 (Rep. DeBoer)
Construction: permits; deadline for the department to require changes to an application for a building permit; provide.HB 5934 (Rep. Schmaltz)
Construction: permits; reimbursement of permit fees if permit is not issued or denied within deadline; provide for permits issued by the department..HB 5935 (Rep. Schuette)
Construction: permits; notice requirements for a building permit or additional permit issued by the department; provide.OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
Today the agenda was revised to add one non-health bill.
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