Updates About Legislature

This week, Republicans and Democrats joined together at Secchia Stadium, home of the Michigan State Softball team, for the 4th Annual Michigan Legislative Charity Softball Game. The event intends to unite legislators from opposing parties around a common cause and emphasize their shared commitment to helping Michigan families. The game raised over $10,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing.

The evening got off to a hot start when, at the conclusion of the first inning, the Democrats were up 3-2. In the bottom of the second, Republican Jay Deboyer sent a ball off the outfield fence for an inside-the-park grand slam to tie the game 7-7. The bats were relatively quiet for the next two innings until the top of the 5th, when Democrat Matt Longhjohn stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. Facing a 1-1 count, he launched a ball over the fence, sending it off one of the outfield light poles for a grand slam, making the score 13-8. One of the Democrats he knocked in was Dylan Wegela, who was a perfect 5-5 on the day.

A heated debate broke out in the 6th inning between Republican Coaches Timmy Beson, Donni Steele, and Kathy Schmaltz, who argued with Democrat Coach Alabas Farhat and Third Baseman John Fitzgerald over whether Democrat Jimmie Wilson bunted a pitch, which is illegal in slow pitch softball.

In the end, the Democrats bested the Republicans 13-10, bringing the series record to 1-3 in favor of the GOP.

The Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee recently took up testimony on SB 914, introduced by Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit). The bill would require prescription drug co-pay assistance to count toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.

Supporters of the bill include patient advocacy groups that represent individuals with serious conditions such as cancer, blood disorders, epilepsy, and other diseases that require patients to rely on costly medications. Supporting organizations argue that the bill would reduce unexpected out-of-pocket costs for patients, while simultaneously improving affordability and transparency in drug pricing.

Opposition comes primarily from insurers and health plans, who argue the policy would influence patients to purchase more expensive brand name medications versus cheaper generic options. It has also been suggested that co-pay coupons increase the cost of brand name medications over time.

The bill is now waiting on a Committee vote.

Last week, the Michigan Senate passed a bipartisan bill package offering relief for Michiganders with medical debt. SB 449, SB 450, and SB 451, championed by Senators Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater), passed with substantial support across both political caucuses. The bills would require hospitals to implements financial assistance plans for managing a patient’s medical debt and would change rules that currently allow for what critics say is aggressive debt collection.

Two related bills introduced by Anthony and Lindsey also passed unanimously last week. SB 701 and SB 702 would provide protections for patients by establishing maximum interest rates for medical debt and removing excessive late fees on medical debt for a minimum of 90 days after a patient receives their final invoice. The bills would also prohibit debt collectors and healthcare facilities from having a patient arrested, garnishing their wages, or foreclosing on their home as a means of collecting medical debt.

All five bills were subsequently referred to the House Health Policy committee.