The Michigan Legislature's lame duck session ended last night and the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) is still analyzing the effects over the past three weeks. More details will be shared over the next few days, please watch MSMS.org and your email for further information and your email for further information and updates.

There are, however, some immediate highlights we wanted to share with you:

1. SB 1019: Your calls, emails and social media posts to your lawmakers worked! Senate Bill 1019, a bill that would remove the state's common sense requirement that a physician supervise anesthesia procedures in Michigan, has been stopped. MSMS strongly opposed and never deviated from its integrity and commitment to medicine.
2. HB 1104: MSMS supported legislation that addressed the Court of Appeals decision that allowed the collection of windfall payments stemming from awarding the plaintiff the amount charged by the hospital as opposed to the amount required to settle the debt to the hospital paid by the insurer. House Bill 1104 passed and will now head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
3. Auto No-Fault: For a detailed report on this please reference Gongwer's article, titled Hospitals Pull Stunner On Auto Insurance; Energy In Doubt.

MSMS will continue to work with lawmakers to ensure that we help pass sound health policy for patients and the medical profession based on goals outlined in the MSMS Legislative Agenda. For more information about MSMS legislative advocacy efforts, contact Colin Ford at 517/336-5737 or visit http://msms.org/Engage.