Throughout this series, one theme has remained constant: continuing medical education (CME) is essential, but the way physicians learn has changed dramatically. Michigan's 150-hour CME requirement was established decades ago, when educational opportunities were more limited and state mandates were viewed as the primary way to promote lifelong learning. Today, physicians engage in continuous learning through specialty board certification, quality improvement collaboratives, clinical decision support tools, simulation, peer review, and evidence-based practice initiatives. Yet Michigan remains among the small number of states requiring the equivalent of 50 CME hours per year, which is well above the national norm and higher than many neighboring states.
House Bill 5313 recognizes these changes and offers a balanced, forward-looking solution. The bill does not eliminate continuing medical education or diminish the importance of lifelong learning. Instead, it modernizes Michigan's licensing requirements by bringing them closer to national norms while maintaining strong expectations for physician competence and accountability. As the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) has noted, the question is not whether continuing education matters, because it clearly does. Rather, is Michigan's current structure the best way to support meaningful learning and improve patient care? Evidence increasingly suggests that quality, relevance, and practice-based education are more important than simply accumulating hours.
Michigan also faces a significant physician workforce challenge. Hospitals and physician practices across the state are struggling to recruit and retain physicians as demand for care continues to grow. While continuing education requirements are only one factor physicians consider when deciding where to practice, overly burdensome licensing requirements contribute to the perception that Michigan is a more difficult place to build a medical career than neighboring states. House Bill 5313 will not solve the physician shortage on its own, but it represents the kind of thoughtful, evidence-based reform that can improve Michigan's practice environment. By reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens without compromising patient safety or professional standards, the bill sends an important message that Michigan values its physicians, respects their professionalism, and is committed to making the state a more competitive place to practice medicine.
House Bill 5313 helps move Michigan from being an outlier in medical regulation to a leader in smart, modern health policy.
Members are encouraged to visit the MSMS Grassroots Action Center to stay informed and easily contact legislators about this and other issues shaping the future of medicine in Michigan.
For further information, please contact MSMS Director of Government Affairs, Kate Dorsey, at kdorsey@msms.org.