VOLUNTEER LICENSE FOR RETIRED DENTISTS

House Bill 6392

Sponsor:  Rep. Rick Shaffer

Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 11-27-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6392 AS INTRODUCED 9-5-06

Public Act 24 of 2006 amended the Public Health Code to create a special volunteer license for retired physicians and podiatrists who provide medical care for the needy.  (For more information on Public Act 24, see the enrolled analysis on House Bill 4670 dated 9-8-06.)

House Bill 6392 would amend the Public Health Code to expand the provisions of Public Act 24 to include retired dentists.

MCL 333.16184

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 6392 may increase state costs to administer a recently established volunteer licensing program.  HB 6392 will add qualified retired dentists to the group of health professions that may be eligible for the volunteer license.  The costs are dependent upon the number of persons who seek this licensure.  Annual licensing fees are not charged for the volunteer license, so the costs for the licensing process will have to be supported by existing revenue of the Department of Community Health or a new appropriation if demand is significant.  Public Act 24 of 2006, effective in February of 2006, established a volunteer license system for physicians which DCH is in the process of implementing.

Persons will be subject to discipline under Part 161 of the Public Health Code for licensure violations or unlawful practice, which may include fines.

Because volunteer licensees would provide medical care at no cost for indigent persons or in medically underserved areas of the state, there may be some modest consequent cost savings for state and local governments from possible reductions in medical care costs for these populations.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.