Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a 16-bill package that expands reproductive rights and will make getting contraceptives easier for Michigan residents.
“Today, I’m signing commonsense bills to further protect everyone’s fundamental freedom to make their own decisions about their own body,” Whitmer said on Tuesday. “These bills will save women time and money so they can access the birth control they need and cut unnecessary red tape that stands between people and their health care. Whether you’re getting ready to start a family or figuring out which contraceptive option is best for you, I’ll fight to make sure you have the freedom to make that choice. Together, let’s keep fighting like hell to protect reproductive rights.”
House Bills 5435 and 5436, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit) and Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt), allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control and require insurers to cover the costs of the contraceptives.
This bill comes as the state faces a shortage of OB/GYNs, making it more challenging for residents to access birth control. A third of Michigan’s 83 counties don’t have OB/GYNs, according to the release.
“Today, we are breaking down barriers to reproductive health care access in Michigan. This new law makes it easier for individuals — especially those in underserved communities — to take charge of their health and their futures," said Young. “Access to contraceptives shouldn’t depend on where you live or whether you can get a doctor’s appointment. By expanding access, we are prioritizing equity, convenience and the well-being of our residents. I’m grateful to my colleagues and advocates for helping us deliver meaningful change for Michiganders.”
House Bill 5636, sponsored by Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), provides licensure for freestanding birth centers. These centers provide midwifery care, reproductive and sexual health care, along with newborn and postpartum care. They give residents affordable access to midwives throughout their pregnancies and give families the resources to experience a safe birth.
“Trained to advocate for their patients, evidence has shown that doulas and midwives can significantly reduce the risk of adverse maternal health outcomes, especially for women of color and diverse socio-economic backgrounds,” according to the release.
Along with this, House Bill 5826, sponsored by Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren), was signed. This supports doulas across the state by creating a scholarship program.
It will award one-time scholarships of up to $3,000 to cover the cost of doula training for residents who need financial assistance.
House Bill 5956, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), further codifies federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions in Michigan law and prohibits discriminating against a provider who is acting within the scope of their license or certification.
House Bill 5166, sponsored by Young, continues support for the State’s Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQC), which are networks of perinatal care providers and health professionals that are working to improve outcomes and reduce disparities in health care for women and newborns.
House Bill 5172, sponsored by Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Walker), will create a program to designate perinatal centers based on the level of care they offer to residents, ensuring mothers are matched to facilities that can properly care for the risk level of their pregnancies.
Reps. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint) and Kimberly Edwards (D- Eastpointe) sponsored House Bills 5167 and 5168, which will require health insurance agencies to cover the costs of blood pressure monitors for pregnant and postpartum women.
House Bills 5169, 5170, and 5171, sponsored by state Reps. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) and Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac) reduce barriers to mental health services for postpartum residents. They will require health care professionals to offer mental health screenings at follow-up appointments and require coverage for the costs of the screenings.
House Bill 4728, sponsored by state Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), erases the requirement that breast milk donors must be tested for HIV every three months while maintaining initial screening requirements.
“Ongoing testing is not medically necessary for breast milk safety because the pasteurization process deactivates the HIV virus,” according to the release. “Testing regularly to donate breast milk is costly and time consuming, discouraging donors from continuing to donate.”
Rogers also sponsored House Bill 5825 and House Bill 4224. House Bill 5825 requires health insurers to issue rebates if they don’t meet the minimum sending requirements on patient care, while House Bill 4224 repeals workforce requirements for the Healthy Michigan Plan, which a federal court ruled to be unlawful in 2020.
House Bill 5173, sponsored by Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) requires hospitals across Michigan to provide information to parents about the health insurance enrollment process for newborns.
