Legislation will improve access to care for injured residents and their families
LANSING, Mich. (September 26, 2023) — Today, Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) and Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) introduced Senate Bills 530 and 531, bipartisan bills to improve access to care for Michigan drivers severely injured in auto accidents. The bills have been assigned to the Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection, which Sen. Cavanagh chairs.
“Several years after major reforms to Michigan’s auto insurance system, we’re able to evaluate some of the outcomes, including unintended consequences,” said Sen. Cavanagh. “These bills address the urgent issue of access to care, ensuring survivors of auto accidents can continue receiving the specialized care they need and restoring the promise to every Michigan driver that they’ll have access to appropriate care if they’re ever in an accident.”
In 2019, the Michigan Legislature overhauled the first-party personal injury protection (PIP) portion of the no-fault auto insurance system, including creating provider fee schedules and attendant care limitations. Senate Bills 530 and 531 build on that work through changes that improve accessibility to affordable post-acute and home care, including the reimbursement structure under the Medicare fee schedule, establishing consistent rates among providers; establishing a new non-Medicare fee schedule, creating a fair and reasonable rate structure to ensure specialized care is readily available; and addressing home care limitations, requiring accreditation for agency providers and expanding opportunities for family-provided care.
“This bill package supports auto accident survivors and reestablishes our commitment to Michigan drivers that they will have access to high-quality, affordable care if they are in an accident,” said Sen. Anthony. “For years, people severely injured and permanently disabled by accidents have been priced out of the care that their lives depend on. These bills will support accident survivors, their families, and their caregivers by restructuring our Medicare reimbursement schedule and increasing in-home care to ensure they receive access to the support they need.”
