TELEHEALTH: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE                                                           S.B. 213:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 213 (as reported with amendments)

Sponsor:  Senator Peter MacGregor

Committee:  Health Policy

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:

-- Allow a health professional who is a prescriber acting within the scope of his or her practice in prescribing a drug and who is providing a telehealth service to prescribe a controlled substance.

-- Require a health professional who prescribed a drug to comply with requirements concerning referrals and follow-up services.

-- Require, rather than permit, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to promulgate rules to implement the Code's provisions regarding telehealth services.

The bill would take effect on March 29, 2017.

MCL 333.16285 & 333.16287                                     Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a minor, but negative fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), and no fiscal impact on local units of government.  Under the bill, LARA would be required to promulgate administrative rules regarding telehealth services.  Rule promulgation would result in some new administrative costs that would likely be minor, but would vary with the relative complexity of the rules promulgated.  These costs would be borne by existing resources within LARA.

Date Completed:  3-8-17                                                       Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.