House Bill 5313 reflects a simple principle: professional regulation should protect the public without imposing unnecessary administrative burdens. By reducing Michigan's physician continuing medical education (CME) requirement to a level more consistent with national norms, the bill preserves physicians' commitment to lifelong learning while eliminating requirements that exceed what is necessary to maintain competence. This approach is well aligned with Michigan's broader effort to modernize regulation and make the state a better place to practice, work, and do business.
That effort has been embraced across state government. In her 2025 State of the State address, Governor Gretchen Whitmer called for reducing unnecessary red tape and streamlining government. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) followed with its Cutting Red Tape: Recommendations to Protect People and Promote Business report, which identified opportunities to simplify regulations affecting businesses and licensed professionals across numerous industries—including multiple health care professions—while maintaining strong public protections. The Legislature has already advanced several of these recommendations. For example, House Bill 4901 extends the licensure cycle for registered nurses and speech-language pathologists from two years to three years, effectively reducing the frequency of continuing education requirements. House Bill 5313 follows the same common-sense philosophy: preserving high professional standards while removing unnecessary regulatory burdens. Rather than being an isolated proposal, it is part of a broader movement to ensure Michigan's licensing requirements are effective, evidence-based, and appropriately tailored to the public interest.
This article is part of an ongoing series exploring how and why the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) is advocating for meaningful CME reform in Michigan and supporting House Bill 5313. Members are encouraged to visit the MSMS Grassroots Action Center to stay informed and easily contact legislators about the issues shaping the future of medicine in Michigan.
For further information, please contact MSMS Director of Government Affairs, Kate Dorsey, at kdorsey@msms.org.
Reference
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Cutting Red Tape: Recommendations to Protect People and Promote Business. 2025.