The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony Wednesday on bills aimed at improving early intervention services for children affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and lead exposure.
House Bills 5773 and 5574 would create automatic referrals to Early On Michigan for children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, helping families access developmental, health and educational services earlier. Supporters said early intervention can significantly improve long-term outcomes.
The committee also reviewed a lead poisoning prevention package. House Bill 4864 would lower Michigan’s blood lead intervention threshold to match updated federal standards, while House Bill 5975 would require automatic Early On referrals for children with elevated lead levels.
House Bill 4865 would require baby food manufacturers to test for toxic metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury and publish the results online.
Some lawmakers raised concerns about whether Early On Michigan has enough funding and staffing to handle increased referrals. The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) worked with the Michigan Section of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to review the bills and will continue to monitor closely. No action was taken on the bills at this time.
Separately, the House approved House Bill 5150, legislation to license respiratory therapists in Michigan. MSMS worked closely on the bill to ensure physicians remain the leaders of the health care team and successfully secured changes reflecting that role. The bill has now been transmitted to the Senate, where it awaits further action.
Although the Senate Health Policy Committee had posted to meet and take up a package of bills (973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978) to create a State Based Exchange for health insurance, that committee was canceled when the Senate Session ran long. Presumably, the bills will be on the agenda in the future, as Senate Leadership has indicated they are a priority. MSMS prioritizes patient access to coverage and will closely monitor how this package progresses.
Policy activity is expected to slow next week as much of Lansing heads to Mackinac Island for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual Policy Conference. This year’s gathering comes as lawmakers prepare for critical budget negotiations and the start of a closely watched election season.
Should you have any questions about these or other issues, please contact Kate Dorsey, MSMS Director of Government Relations, at kdorsey@msms.org.