CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to allow a licensed hospital to grant a fully licensed psychologist full professional staff privileges including, but not limited to, admission, treatment, and discharge of patients. The bill would not apply to a person who held a limited license to practice psychology.

Currently under the Code, a hospital must cooperate with the Department of Consumer and Industry Services to ensure that physicians, dentists, and other personnel working in the hospital are licensed or registered if that is required; assure that physicians and dentists admitted to practice are granted privileges consistent with their training, experience, and qualifications; and assure that physicians and dentists admitted to practice in the hospital are organized to enable an effective review of the practices in the hospital for the purposes of reducing morbidity and mortality, and improving care. The bill also would require a hospital to fulfill these requirements for a fully licensed psychologist.

MCL 333.21513 Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

Whenever there is an expansion of health care provider types allowed to engage in certain previously restricted services, the question is raised as to whether this will result in a substitute for, or an addition to, existing health care services and therefore total costs. In regard to the bill, it would clearly be an addition to those existing providers who can admit patients to inpatient hospital settings. However, by definition, these providers are limited to psychiatric treatment. As inpatient psychiatric care is one of the most heavily reviewed and/or prior authorized services in this State, it is unlikely that there would be a significant increase in admissions per se, with the most likely result being that of a change in who is doing the admitting.

Fiscal Analyst: J. Walker

S9596\S962SA

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.

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