Earlier this week, the Senate Health Policy Committee approved the substitute version of Senate Bill 68. The Michigan State Medical Society has worked very closely with Senator Mike Shirkey, chair, and the committee offering language to be included in the substitute. Though MSMS is pleased with the direction of SB 68, work remains to be done.
Now that the Senate Health Policy Committee has approved the bill, it will go to the full Michigan Senate for a vote. If the Senate approves the bill, it will move to the House Health Policy Committee in the Michigan House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate Bill 68 went from being a bill that equated the training of APRNs with physicians to a bill that would recognize the APRN profession, and their role in the health care team while retaining the appropriate involvement of physicians. As with any piece of legislation, SB 68 is a work in progress. Many positive changes have been made, but physicians need to remain vigilant to assure that additional changes are included to assure that the law reflects the best interests of the patients of Michigan.