News & Media
HB 5522 Lowers the Standard of Care for Michigan Patients
EAST LANSING – The following is a public statement from Amit Ghose, MD, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, in response to the introduction of HB 5522—scope of practice expansion legislation that removes physicians from the patient care teams.
“Across Michigan, patients are already facing rising costs, longer wait times, and a health care system that feels harder and harder to navigate. HB 5522 doesn’t solve those problems. Instead, it would allow physician assistants to practice independently—removing the critical physician collaboration that ensures accurate diagnoses, coordinated treatment, and the highest standard of care. That’s not reform. It’s a shortcut—and it puts patients at unnecessary risk.
“We’ve seen what happens in states that weaken physician-led teams. Patients experience more fragmented care, higher out-of-pocket costs, and increased emergency room visits. Expanding scope of practice for non-physicians does not meaningfully improve access—it simply lowers the standard of care at a time when families are already paying more and getting less.
“If lawmakers are serious about addressing access and affordability, the answer isn’t to separate patients from physicians. The answer is to strengthen the team-based model that consistently delivers better outcomes. Michigan patients don’t want shortcuts when their health is on the line—they want care they can trust. Protecting physician-led care means protecting patient safety, and that must remain our priority.”