[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6123555,"mediaKeyId","2689461-4c8552f1a231d521c4e711705cd864d4","parentId",2689461,"title","Committee hears bill to let patients take home eye drops used during care","audioSeconds",920,"startMs",338000,"endMs",1258000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689461-4c8552f1a231d521c4e711705cd864d4&start=338&end=1258","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689461-4c8552f1a231d521c4e711705cd864d4/thumbnail_338000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6123555/Michigan/Committee-hears-bill-to-let-patients-take-home-eye-drops-used-during-care","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123555-dfc6c5586d0c9711ebcc3934277b73fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529705&Signature=nXoNQgzhOOSbTlJODRPvHfiqCo1DTQG7FjL7g8X5DIPRK0NCxYPm2I1O7D8LXspsDWHBZktfApFcspedUulqOIFEJv7wpowmscVWjZ4TZLWBmk1hrpwY2CFoAj2AExsbR1oMOU7xIx3QQ4-M562LutLf91YmLd8vBp9KqzfqpXlkbh4NIoT7xcfulYT7OmpRsdO9anhskK1aRUCmoJIDdw0jL9bej1On3Tl3Ox4rLtNWuU8n83m3anOU2je1soZRXDPT6JF9SnVH7yT3BRFBdfEnY5b~-VLLzpnzRVae4ytWjDFiMIU52UGeXmwgxs2g6DrHie65~RbN85Uqb-KPpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee on Thursday heard testimony on House Bill 4072, a measure that would permit hospitals, emergency departments and outpatient surgery centers to allow patients to take home topical eye medications (eye drops and ointments) that were opened or started while the patient was under care.

Proponents said the change would reduce patient costs, cut medical waste and remove delays in obtaining time-sensitive eye medicines. Dr. Scott Westhouse, a retina specialist testifying for the Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, said, “This bill will ensure that topical eye medicines or drops that are used for patient care within the hospital, emergency room, or surgery center can be taken home with a patient if they need it for their continuing care.”

Supporters argued the current practice — discarding partly used bottles at discharge and requiring patients to obtain a fresh supply from a pharmacy — can create both expense and treatment delays. “There is a large disposal of unused eye drops that significantly increases patient cost and also just medical waste to our system,” Westhouse said, and he cited a 2019 study estimating an average of $148 in discarded medications per cataract case and an extrapolated U.S. annual figure of roughly $560 million based on national surgical volumes.

Representatives introducing and supporting the bill framed it as a common‑sense regulatory update modeled on statutes already enacted elsewhere. Representative Steckloff said the proposal was based in part on practice in Illinois, which passed similar legislation in 2021. Witnesses said safeguards — including counseling, labeling and protocols about which medications are eligible — could be required in implementing rules.

Committee members asked about infection risk and the workload placed on providers. Representative Thompson, a registered nurse, noted concerns that the nozzle could contaminate a bottle and asked whether counseling and dispensing would add tasks for clinical staff. Westhouse replied that the bill addresses use of a single bottle for a single patient (not sharing among patients) and that standard patient counseling and labeling practices would remain in place: “We would be following our typical standard of care.”

Committee members also asked whether state dispensing laws currently prohibit the practice. Westhouse said existing pharmaceutical dispensing statutes restrict the volume that can be dispensed outside typical pharmacy prescriptions and that the bill would create an explicit allowance for larger, clinically used bottles (for example, 5–10 milliliter bottles commonly used in eye care).

Several organizations submitted written statements or cards in support, including the Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition and the Michigan State Medical Society. There was no committee vote on the bill at the hearing.

The committee chair said more technical witnesses would follow in future consideration and no vote was taken at Thursday’s hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health Policy - 3/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee on Thursday heard testimony on House Bill 4072, a measure that would permit hospitals, emergency departments and outpatient surgery centers to allow patients to take home topical eye medications (eye drops and ointments) that were opened or started while the patient was under care.","taxTitle","2025 House Legislature MI, Michigan","taxId",77683,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6123546,"Committee hears bills to join occupational‑therapy licensure compact to expand access",1802,2238000,4040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689461-4c8552f1a231d521c4e711705cd864d4&start=2238&end=4040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689461-4c8552f1a231d521c4e711705cd864d4/thumbnail_2238000.jpg","/articles/6123546/Michigan/Committee-hears-bills-to-join-occupationaltherapy-licensure-compact-to-expand-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123546-144d6e42f1d42e27f14039fd27f82fd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529705&Signature=Jt6Qwst6xqozLtmW0klCiY0LR2RMnTueOr~H9DBVVOCcyFxjpzWCwjiq8A-eY9owUBzDNrBeR0wQm-vNiDsWFEmNIn4Vq2HGP2~toMeZ5iTUPFh6Rb8731avKp~r41vVavMeAPq7T8q4XJmZz~CQ1ap9oFKS7DBGsSOsgiQIksOjT6dZ4bQ78TnzjcLvuCsVvePBC545EoLmkwnfHci4XqAp6-yC6oy4CpzSu4yvEf~GZ5eoYhYrJsL8OjFgGGms4QoubmQNEdn0vxGyeBOX5d~eUPWxVtZ7clgSLd1S6Cacba5cGDzbb3vLhi2DpMKF1HUDVN6U7mEsLctgn78gYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4103 and 4104, which would authorize Michigan to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact and set implementing requirements.

Sponsors and occupational therapy advocates said the compact would increase access to occupational therapy services in rural and underserved communities, reduce long waiting lists for specialty care and support telepractice. Representative Rogers, sponsor of House Bill 4103, said the compact reauthorization had passed the House overwhelmingly in a prior session and would align Michigan with neighboring states that have already joined.

Denise Hoffman, legislative and advocacy director for the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association and a board‑certified occupational therapist, told the committee that rural families sometimes wait months for pediatric feeding specialists and other OT subspecialists. “There are examples of infants and children with feeding conditions who go home from the hospital and then face up to eight months’ waiting period to get a qualified occupational therapist in rural areas,” she said.

Witnesses emphasized that the compact preserves each member state’s regulatory authority and scope of practice, while creating an alternate pathway for licensure privileges that facilitates telehealth and workforce mobility. Dan Logsdon of the Council of State Governments’ National Center for Interstate Compacts was available by video and said his office advises states on compact design and implementation.

Committee members questioned jurisprudence and continuing‑education requirements. Representatives were told jurisdictions use a variety of approaches (for example, Ohio’s compact implementation uses a short, state‑specific acknowledgement in some cases rather than a full jurisprudence examination) and that detailed implementation language can be standardized in rules or administrative guidance.

Several education programs, hospitals and professional associations submitted cards in support. No committee vote was taken at the hearing.","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4103 and 4104, which would authorize Michigan to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact and set implementing requirements.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6123551,"Committee hears bills to join Physical Therapy Licensure Compact to ease cross‑state practice",950,1260000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689461-4c8552f1a231d521c4e711705cd864d4&start=1260&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689461-4c8552f1a231d521c4e711705cd864d4/thumbnail_1260000.jpg","/articles/6123551/Michigan/Committee-hears-bills-to-join-Physical-Therapy-Licensure-Compact-to-ease-crossstate-practice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123551-3c2d691ee8c1663c9a49fa973e3f8fc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529705&Signature=JTnChBAQTzLRfrjr4O~z6ZF85S8eEYFiXqe7IT-csrE9oHyFh1vq5X90lPOtDNkUcq-sHIIWjOREu6x-4cJUYnfamwtMs~j5EDKIJsmA8UhrGGD5EU5hQ9dBXE9dInP-21phAACxDSQSklD4pV8kMI3PdChBJlsrsYCuQ70DQCEEr2WTxuF5HO8RpLsG21vrdVAYnjQXHvOZTxn8-eNctDhCbqsjcenOjqUyEfUtmYQJ~IsV9OBPi~zflG4Dq1EnJWvQNUkgsn11V4-08J5eENrFdfGWuhBBV9~KiraHAbNfQ76AqacjtnRAymMO4lRuJsxO~CXftSRx3xubT0Nx6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee took testimony on House Bills 4101 and 4102, a bipartisan package to authorize Michigan’s participation in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact and related implementing provisions.

Proponents said the compact preserves state licensing authority while allowing eligible Michigan licensees to purchase a compact privilege to practice in other member states without securing a separate state license. “The process is faster and more efficient, so it allows for improved access and choice of physical therapy providers for everyone, especially in underserved areas of the state,” Jeff Rosa, compact administrator for the Physical Therapy Compact Commission, told the committee.

Representative Rob Beierlein, sponsor of the bills, said joining the compact would help address workforce shortages and improve access in rural communities and through telehealth. “By becoming a member state, Michigan will expand opportunities for licensed professionals while increasing access to essential therapy services for our residents, including those in rural and underserved communities,” he said.

Witnesses stressed the compact’s public‑protection features: a shared data system that captures licensure and disciplinary information, background checks and continuing‑education requirements. Rosa said the compact preserves the state‑based licensure system and gives the Michigan Physical Therapy Board authority to take action in Michigan; the state may also charge a state fee in addition to the compact privilege fee. A witness said there is typically an additional fee (mentioned in testimony as about $90) to purchase a compact privilege for a remote state.

Committee members asked about costs to the state, fiscal impacts and how quickly benefits would appear. Rosa said states sometimes incur a one‑time cost to interface licensing databases with the commission’s data system; other states required little or no work. He also said the compact commission has been active since 2017 and funds operations through compact‑privilege sales; it had not required an annual state assessment in practice.

Members also raised jurisdictional questions about discipline and telehealth practice. Rosa explained that the Michigan board may act against a compact privilege used to practice in Michigan and that action can terminate an individual’s compact privileges in other member states; the home state (the state that issued the license) retains authority over the license itself.

Professional groups and academic programs submitted cards in support, and Brian Gilbert, president of the American Physical Therapy Association of Michigan and a former licensing board chair, testified in favor of the bills. There was no committee vote at the hearing.","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee took testimony on House Bills 4101 and 4102, a bipartisan package to authorize Michigan’s participation in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact and related implementing provisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to let patients take home eye drops used during care

Committee hears bills to join occupational‑therapy licensure compact to expand access

Committee hears bills to join Physical Therapy Licensure Compact to ease cross‑state practice