HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY
REP. BRONNA KAHLE
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 3,
2021
12:00
PM
Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol
Building
The House Committee on Health Policy was called to order by Chair Kahle.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Kahle, Meerman, Whiteford, Alexander, Allor, Hauck, Filler, Mueller,
Beeler, Fink, Roth, Tisdel, Witwer, Clemente, Pohutsky, Stone, Whitsett, Neeley, Morse.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Filler moved to adopt the meeting minutes from February 25, 2021. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 4356 before the committee:
HB 4356
(Rep. Meerman)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," by amending sections 5553, 5555,
5557, and 5561 (MCL 333.5553, 333.5555,
333.5557, and 333.5561), as added by 2014 PA
269.
Dr. Roger Seelye, representing the Michigan Optometric Association, testified in opposition
to HB 4356. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4356, but did not wish to speak:
Kyle Zebley, representing the American Telemedicine Association.
Gavin Goetz, representing AT&T.
Tyler Diers, representing TechNet.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4356, but did not wish to speak:
Melissa Seifert, representing the AARP Michigan.
Sam Champagne, representing the Henry Ford OptimEyes.
The Chair laid HB 4346 before the committee:
HB 4346
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled "The
insurance code of 1956," (MCL 500.100 to
500.8302) by adding section 3406v.
Gary Dougherty, representing the American Diabetes Association, testified in support of HB
4346. Questions and discussion followed.
Ann Constance, representing herself, testified in support of HB 4346.
Bret Jackson, representing the Economic Alliance for Michigan, testified in opposition to HB
4346. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4346, but did not wish to speak:
Arielle Kane, representing the Progressive Policy Institute.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4346, but did not wish to speak:
Micah Babcock, representing the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Dave Worthams, representing the Michigan Manufacturers Association.
Andy Johnston, representing the Grand Rapids Chamber.
Matt Patton, representing the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Amanda Fisher, representing the NFIB.
Wendy Block, representing the Michigan Chamber.
At 12:44 PM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 12:48 PM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Representative Mueller offered the following amendments to HB 4346:
1. Amend page 1, line 3, after "insulin" by inserting "drugs".
2. Amend page 2, line 1, after "insulin" by inserting "drugs".
3. Amend page 2, line 2, after "$50.00" by striking out "per" and inserting "for
each".
4. Amend page 2, line 2, after "of" by inserting "prescription".
5. Amend page 2, line 2, after "insulin" by striking out the balance of the subsection
and inserting "drugs.".
Representative Alexander moved to adopt the amendments to HB 4346. The motion prevailed
18-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Kahle, Meerman, Whiteford, Alexander, Allor, Hauck, Filler, Mueller,
Beeler, Fink, Roth, Tisdel, Witwer, Clemente, Pohutsky, Whitsett, Neeley, Morse.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Stone.
Representative Meerman moved to report House Bill No. 4346 as amended, as substitute (H-
1). The motion prevailed 14-2-3:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Kahle, Meerman, Whiteford, Alexander, Allor, Hauck, Mueller, Beeler, Roth,
Tisdel, Witwer, Pohutsky, Whitsett, Morse.
Nays: Reps. Filler, Fink.
Pass: Reps. Clemente, Stone, Neeley.
Chair Kahle returned to HB 4356.
Representative Meerman offered the following amendments to HB 4356:
1. Amend page 2, line 10, after "if" by striking out "the" and inserting "both of the
following requirements are met:
(a) The".
2. Amend page 2, following line 12, by inserting:
"(b) The patient has had an in-person evaluation and examination within the
immediately preceding 5 years.".
Representative Filler moved to adopt the amendments to HB 4356. The motion prevailed 17-
2-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Kahle, Meerman, Whiteford, Alexander, Allor, Hauck, Filler, Mueller,
Beeler, Fink, Roth, Tisdel, Witwer, Clemente, Pohutsky, Whitsett, Neeley.
Nays: Reps. Stone, Morse.
Pass: None.
Representative Hauck moved to report House Bill No. 4356 as amended, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 16-3-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Kahle, Meerman, Whiteford, Alexander, Allor, Hauck, Filler, Mueller, Beeler,
Fink, Roth, Tisdel, Witwer, Clemente, Whitsett, Neeley.
Nays: Reps. Pohutsky, Stone, Morse.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 4351 and HB 4352 before the committee:
HB 4351
(Rep. Whitsett)
A bill to amend 1984 PA 218, entitled "Third party
administrator act," by amending the title and
section 2 (MCL 550.902) and by adding sections
26 and 27.
HB 4352
(Rep. Allor)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," by amending section 17757 (MCL
333.17757), as amended by 2016 PA 383, and by
adding section 17757b.
Representative Whitsett and Representative Allor, testified together in support of HB 4351
and HB 4352.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4351, but did not wish to speak:
Holly Pendell, representing the National MS Society.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4352, but did not wish to speak:
Paige Fults, representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Adam Carlson, representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4351 and HB 4352, but did not wish
to speak:
Amanda Fisher NFIB, representing the NFIB.
Andy Johnston, representing the Grand Rapids Chamber.
Christine Shearer, representing the Michigan Association of Health Plans.
Bret Jackson, representing the Economic Alliance for Michigan.
The Chair laid HB 4359 before the committee:
HB 4359
(Rep. Whiteford)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," by amending sections 17210 and
17708 (MCL 333.17210 and 333.17708), section
17210 as amended by 2017 PA 22 and section
17708 as amended by 2020 PA 4.
Representative Whiteford, testified in support of HB 4359. Questions and discussion
followed.
Bobby Mukkamala M.D., representing the Michigan State Medical Society, testified in
opposition to HB 4359. Questions and discussion followed.
At 1:29 PM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 4:13 PM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Toni Schmittling, representing the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists, testified in
support of HB 4359. Questions and discussion followed.
Steve Barnett, CEO, representing the McKenzie Health System, testified in support of HB
4359. Questions and discussion followed.
Dr. Sid Martin, representing himself, testified in support of HB 4359. Questions and
discussion followed.
David Jahn, CEO, representing the War Memorial Hospital, testified in support of HB 4359.
Questions and discussion followed.
Rebecca Walsh, representing the Michigan Association for Justice, testified in opposition to
HB 4359. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4359, but did not wish to speak:
Margaret Ohryn CRNA MS MBA, representing the Michigan AANA PEER Advisor.
Dawn Kettinger, representing the Michigan Nurses Association.
Greg George, representing the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Paige Fults, representing the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
Heather Nicholoff, representing the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners.
Adam Kuz, representing the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Adam Carlson, representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Chris Mitchell, representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Paige Fults, representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Christine Shearer, representing the Michigan Association of Health Plans.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4359, but did not wish to speak:
Matt Black, representing the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians.
Belinda Chandler, representing the Michigan College of Emergency Physicians.
Robert Keller and Robert Rensch, representing the Kalamazoo Anesthesiology.
Kevin McKinney, representing the Michigan Osteopathic Association.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Kahle adjourned the meeting at
5:00 PM.
Representative Bronna Kahle, Chair
Melissa Sweet
Committee Clerk
msweet@house.mi.gov