Not all of the 192 orders issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the COVID-19 lockdown were bad. Some policymakers in Lansing looked to the Mackinac Center’s research and recommendations to navigate the crisis.
Here are some of the health care policy changes inspired by the Mackinac Center that were enacted in response to COVID-19:
Through executive order, the governor expanded access to telemedicine, allowing patients to visit their doctors via webcam. While many of these telehealth advancements remain in place today, the same can’t be said for the provisions that follow.
CON laws were suspended under the state of emergency, freeing health care providers to expand critical services without first seeking government approval. This allowed them to add hospital beds, intensive care units and imaging technology.
Michigan has since reverted to requiring providers to obtain a permission slip from an unelected state board before expanding medical services to serve more patients. CON laws reduce access to affordable care, as shown by abundant research. The Mackinac Center is working to get this and other forms of temporary relief enshrined in law.
During the pandemic, the state eased restrictions to allow nursing professionals to take on broader responsibilities. Pharmacists were able to provide important services such as point-of-care testing, updated vaccinations, and screenings for influenza and strep.
The state has since reimposed scope-of-practice regulations, preventing medical professionals from working to the full extent of their training and needlessly limiting access to care.
In response to the pandemic, the governor approved several licensing changes. The state offered immediate certification to advanced medical students, automatically renewed lapsed licenses, and suspended fees for license renewal. Out-of-state medical practitioners with valid licenses were also allowed to treat Michigan patients.
The state has since reinstated barriers that prevent qualified professionals from practicing in Michigan.
These policy reversals don’t just hinder access to medical care. They also contribute to Michigan’s broader struggles, including our state’s ongoing population stagnation. As other states embrace reforms that attract medical talent and expand patients’ access to services, Michigan’s return to outdated regulations puts it at a disadvantage.
If policymakers hope to retain residents, they must strengthen the state’s workforce and make health care more affordable. The Mackinac Center is providing the research and policy support our leaders will need to enact lasting reforms that free medical professionals to serve Michigan’s communities.
