MILITARY MEDICAL PERSONNEL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PILOT PROGRAM
House Bill 6056 as reported from committee
Sponsor: Rep. Dianna Farrington
Committee: Military and Veterans Affairs
Complete to 11-2-18
SUMMARY:
House Bill 6056 would amend the Public Health Code to allow the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to establish a pilot program in which military medical personnel could practice and perform certain delegated acts, tasks, or functions under the supervision of a licensed physician or podiatrist. The bill would also expressly allow a physician or podiatrist to delegate an act, task, or function to military medical personnel participating in the pilot program.
Military medical personnel would mean an individual who has recently served as a medic in the U.S. Army, medical technician in the U.S. Air Force, or corpsman in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard and who was discharged or released from that service under conditions other than dishonorable.
All of the following would apply to the pilot program:
· The delegation of an act, task, or function to military medical personnel would have to reflect their level of training and experience.
· The supervising physician or podiatrist would retain responsibility for the care of the patient.
· Any of the following could participate in the pilot program:
o A licensed physician or podiatrist.
o A professional corporation, limited liability company, or partnership of a licensed physician or podiatrist.
o A commercial enterprise that has medical facilities for its employees that are supervised by one or more physicians or podiatrists.
o A hospital licensed under the Code.
· LARA, in collaboration with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, would have to establish general requirements for participating military medical personnel, licensees, and employers.
The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.
MCL 333.16215 and proposed MCL 333.16215a
BRIEF DISCUSSION:
According to committee testimony, many military medical personnel face a challenge in translating the health care skills they have gained in military service into the credentials or certifications required for comparable civilian health care jobs. House Bill 6056, which was modeled to a large extent on a program in the commonwealth of Virginia, would allow recently transitioned military medical personnel to practice in a clinical environment while pursuing the health care credentialing of their choice.
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 6056 would not be expected to have a significant impact on expenditures or revenues for the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs or any other unit of state or local government. Any costs associated with the pilot program described in the bill would likely be supported by existing departmental appropriations.
POSITIONS:
A representative of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency testified in support of the bill. (10-2-18)
The following entities indicated support for the bill (10-2-18):
· American Legion, Department of Michigan
· Michigan Podiatric Medical Association
Fiscal Analyst: Marcus Coffin
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.