HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY
REP. HANK VAUPEL
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, December 5, 2019
10:30 AM
Room 519, House Office Building
The House Standing Committee on Health Policy was called to order by Chair Vaupel.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Vaupel, Frederick, Alexander, Calley, Hornberger, Lower, Whiteford,
Afendoulis, Mueller, Ellison, Koleszar, Pohutsky, Stone, Witwer.
Absent/Excused: Reps. Filler, Wozniak, Liberati, Garrett, Clemente.
Representative Frederick moved to adopt the meeting minutes from November 7, 2019. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
Representative Ellison moved to excuse Representatives Filler, Wozniak, Liberati, Garrett and
Clemente from the meeting. There being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous
consent.
The Chair laid HB 5178 before the committee:
HB 5178
(Rep. Vaupel)
A bill to amend 1974 PA 258, entitled
“Mental health code,"(MCL 330.1001 to 330.2106) by
adding section 206a.
At 10:37 A.M., the Majority Vice Chair Frederick took over the gavel.
Chairman Vaupel testified in support of HB 5178.
At 10:46 A.M., Chair Vaupel took over the gavel.
Michael Garrett, representing CNS Healthcare, testified in support of HB 5178.
Alan Bolter, representing CMH Association of Michigan, testified in support of HB 5178.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5178, but did not wish to speak:
Christine Shearer, representing the Michigan Association of Health Plans.
The Chair laid HB 4978 and HB 4979 before the committee:
HB 4978
(Rep. Brann)
A bill to provide for the establishment of a
wholesale prescription drug importation program; to provide
for the powers and duties of certain state and local
governmental officers and entities; and to require the
promulgation of rules.
HB 4979
(Rep. Johnson) A bill to provide for the establishment of an
international wholesale prescription drug importation
program; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state
and local governmental officers and entities; and to require
the promulgation of rules.
Representative Brann and Representative Johnson testified in support of HB 4978 and HB 4979.
Peter Fotos and Saiza Elyda, representing Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America, testified in opposition to HB 4978 and HB 4979.
Don Bell and Shabbir Safdar, representing The Partnership for Safe Medicines, testified in
opposition to HB 4978 and HB 4979.
John Adams, representing Best Medicines Coalition, testified in opposition to HB 4978 and HB
4979.
Melissa Seifert and Paula Cunningham, representing American Association of Retired Persons,
testified in support of HB 4978 and HB 4979.
The following people submitted a card with a neutral position on HB 4978 and HB 4979, but did
not wish to speak:
Brian Sapita, representing the Michigan Pharmacists Association.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4978 and HB 4979, but did not wish to
speak:
Christine Shearer, representing the Michigan Association of Health Plans.
Emily Schwerzkopf, representing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4978 and HB 4979, but did not wish
to speak:
Wendy Block, representing the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Andrew Schepers, representing the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Action
Network.
Delaney Mckenley, representing the Michigan Manufacturers Association.
Stephen Rapundalo, representing the Michigan BIO.
Ben Rathbun, representing the Michigan Lupus Foundation.
There being no further business before the committee, Rep. Hank Vaupel adjourned the meeting
at 11:41 AM.
Representative Hank Vaupel, Chair
Sondra Gordon
Committee Clerk
sgordon@house.mi.gov