During the week of June 3, Governor Whitmer signed several bills supported by the MHA related to telehealth services and behavioral health licensing. These bills, now referred to as Public Acts 51-53 of 2024, establish payment parity for telehealth services and protections for telemedicine access through Medicaid and state regulated insurance products. The goal is to support providers in serving patients and ensure that in-person visits remain a vital part of healthcare outcomes.
One of the bills signed, Public Act 50 of 2024 (originally Senate Bill 227), sponsored by Sen. Dan Lauwers, updates the state’s child caring institution licensing laws. This update aligns these laws with emergency intervention language found in the Mental Health Code. The legislation is particularly important for facilities seeking to become licensed as Pediatric Residential Treatment Facilities, creating alignment between the Mental Health Code and the licensing structure for child caring institutions.
The MHA is committed to supporting providers in delivering high-quality care to their patients. These bills are an important step towards achieving this goal by establishing payment parity for telehealth services and protecting access to telemedicine. We encourage members with questions about these bills and their implications to contact Lauren LaPine or Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA for more information.
