[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6055933,"mediaKeyId","3313506-2537ee614e92325e218a5c1657f0038a","parentId",3313506,"title","House committee hears bill to shorten driver suspensions for some people with epilepsy","audioSeconds",1570,"startMs",532000,"endMs",2102000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3313506-2537ee614e92325e218a5c1657f0038a&start=532&end=2102","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3313506-2537ee614e92325e218a5c1657f0038a/thumbnail_532000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6055933/Michigan/House-committee-hears-bill-to-shorten-driver-suspensions-for-some-people-with-epilepsy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055933-9b52c5a3a44172959782ecbdba31a1a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770615980&Signature=ZJZhtr2OnQ-2sKehuMJoNb5s6JB2toAghBC5trqBlSP22wBbdkn2Y7-PNdps4bkolm000ZfwJCKKk3euDygCwlHiw3s-aR1KUuYSUGijPazI~gW6jdO0BIgNa5w1-jbZtAwK3Qcj9PaWR1NG-x~1kpzpbfIOyCuYeMRkBUPYdPUSbi3oixfw5evZBsij1my-o1ktiGAXKOiV7lOKj0H87NfJn690ku45yD6QNtYTS3vNDE7BaW1p4avDrIZoYkd8NCPOZVfqhYPouDSGi0k9ZBnBPF4b0o-eponGgZFQOS4rCdquUc82ZZms76F7j5E82-S3iYBvhCbYjSdIKVmpWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan House of Representatives","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on House Bills 4,306 and 4,307, sponsored by Representative Vanderwall and Representative DeBoer, that would allow physician input to reduce the standard six-month license suspension after an epileptic seizure to three months in certain cases and create limited exceptions for special circumstances.

Supporters, including the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan and clinicians, told the committee the bills would let treating health professionals supply evidence that a person’s seizures are controlled or were caused by a one-time, controllable event — for example a medication change or a nocturnal seizure — and that those patients could safely resume driving sooner. \"Driving eligibility decisions should be based on a person's unique medical history, their seizure control, and input from the treating health care practitioner,\" said Andrea Shottefer, president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan.

Current Michigan practice, witnesses said, generally results in at least a six-month mandatory suspension when a person has an epileptic seizure. Representative Vanderwall told the committee that about 1 percent of Michigan residents have epilepsy; Andrea Shottefer said the Epilepsy Foundation estimates about 109,000 Michiganders live with epilepsy. Proponents argued the bills would reduce unnecessary hardship for people with well‑controlled or situational seizures while keeping public safety in mind.

Dr. Gregory Barclay, a co-founder of the Henry Ford Epilepsy Program, described the bills as a way to \"refine this Michigan state driving regulation to strike a balance between protecting patients with epilepsy while keeping the secretary of state in control of the key decision\" about fitness to drive. Patient advocates described cases where long suspensions discouraged people from seeking care or from fully cooperating with clinicians because of the risk of losing driving privileges. \"The existing laws and landscape often discourage patients ... from seeking necessary treatment out of fear of long license suspensions,\" said Scott Christoffel, a patient advocate who testified in support.

The Michigan Department of State told the committee it opposes the bills as written. Department legislative liaison David Hanzer said the bills would place seizure reports into a hearings process rather than the department’s existing driver assessment workflow and would therefore remove the department’s ability to take immediate licensing action when a person’s ability to control a vehicle is called into question. Hanzer also said the department supports retaining a six‑month requirement for seizures that result in loss of awareness or control, citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s driver fitness medical guidelines and current administrative practice. \"We are opposed to the bills as written,\" Hanzer said.

Committee members asked about safety evidence and administrative processes. A department witness outlined that driver assessment reviews physician statements and can include a vision test, a written test and an on‑road evaluation; the department also noted hearings are available after assessment. Supporters said other states’ experience and some studies show no increase in accidents when suspensions are shortened in constrained, clinically reviewed cases, and they emphasized physician judgment.

No committee vote on the bills occurred during the hearing. Witnesses on both sides said they look forward to continued discussions between the Epilepsy Foundation, clinicians, the Department of State and bill sponsors to reconcile safety, administrative process and access concerns.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health Policy | Wednesday, May 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Health Policy Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on House Bills 4,306 and 4,307, sponsored by Representative Vanderwall and Representative DeBoer, that would allow treating clinicians to request shorter driver license suspensions after certain epileptic seizures.","taxTitle","Health Policy, House of Representative, Committees\t\t\t\t\t, Legislative, Michigan","taxId",27466,"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},6055928,"House committee hears competing testimony on bill to let nurse practitioners practice independently",887,4546000,5433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3313506-2537ee614e92325e218a5c1657f0038a&start=4546&end=5433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3313506-2537ee614e92325e218a5c1657f0038a/thumbnail_4546000.jpg","/articles/6055928/Michigan/House-committee-hears-competing-testimony-on-bill-to-let-nurse-practitioners-practice-independently","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6055928-990a3c628f0394990ca00b0f1df1c9d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770615980&Signature=m7wBMzmje0-1c6BM9L4Fpe0~LtFzVriB3QSs1czIUXapg3-GyfSwUG3Sqz1YWDohdTUBOLd-9sLUWi2~1r5A4YOZ6b0kWLzAddxvSUiksFkE6I7yHjByjHObBJ6pR5-BSqKu4KyeXqu7CqCcp36lBFw6mrzLP0Exje1HiBPhxW~FV5jHghSClbSOBiFEO1gYYWz4A8x8ve-v9wdvvFjbNjNEwWqjzqWz1jWqBYDskn0d8LngFP2nwKzgIh9fM~cjnT0BFN7sob1DqkX8jiwB6ZQ2FjCfaDxThT30o9U8vH4vxze2JddkvE7Z87w0Aj6gAIa0pnVxCzePPdBLWKUK9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lansing — The House Health Policy Committee resumed testimony on House Bill 43 99, a broad proposal that would remove certain physician delegation and supervision requirements for nurse practitioners and allow independent practice in many settings.

Supporters — including university clinic leaders, community health centers and primary care associations — said ending mandatory collaborative contracts would improve access to care, reduce administrative costs and make it easier to hire clinicians to serve underserved and rural areas. \"The best solution for our clinic and others like ours is to retire these contracts entirely,\" said Anne Sheehan, assistant dean for faculty practice at Michigan State University's College of Nursing, describing a nurse‑run family medicine clinic whose new‑patient wait dropped from 45 days to eight days after opening. Sheehan told the committee physician contract fees in her system add roughly $35,000 a year in costs that could otherwise support additional clinician hours.

Lisa Rutledge of Western Wayne Family Health Centers said the requirement has blocked hiring psychiatric nurse practitioners in her organization after a part‑time psychiatrist left. \"We could easily hire a psychiatric nurse practitioner,\" Rutledge said, but the center could not because no psychiatrist would agree to be the required collaborating physician; the organization instead diverted patients to community mental health, increasing waits for specialty care.

Frank Waters of the Michigan Primary Care Association said federally qualified health centers rely on nurse practitioners to serve underserved populations and that full practice authority could help address workforce shortages.

Opponents, including the Michigan Osteopathic Association and physician groups represented in committee testimony, said the bill goes too far in removing physician oversight and raised concerns about differences in training, prescribing patterns, and quality outcomes. \"House Bill 43 99 would allow NPs to independently practice after 4 years of nursing ... and 2 or 3 years of master or PhD level education,\" said Dr. Edward Canfield, speaking for the Michigan Osteopathic Association, urging caution and additional consumer clarity about credentials. He and others pointed to studies and data they said show higher utilization and higher per‑capita health spending in some full‑practice states; a medical society witness cited Minnesota as having the highest per‑capita health care expenditure among neighboring states with full practice authority.

Representatives and witnesses also debated the statutory and business implications. A legal expert advising the committee reviewed how Michigan’s LLC and professional entity statutes apply, saying that under existing law a nurse practitioner who gains independent practice authority could form an LLC or PLLC for lawful professional services unless the statute explicitly prohibits it. Medical society witnesses said the committee should explicitly specify any limits the legislature intends regarding practice ownership.

Committee members asked about malpractice insurance requirements (Michigan does not require professional liability insurance for nurse practitioners by statute), telemedicine and rural access, whether collaborative contracts actually improve supervision, and whether studies cited by proponents reflect team‑based care rather than independent practice. Testimony included a mix of peer‑review citations, organizational experience and anecdotal patient stories.

The committee ended testimony on HB 43 99 with plans to continue consideration at a later date; no vote was taken.","Witnesses for and against HB 43 99 debated whether removing supervision contracts for nurse practitioners would improve access to care in rural and underserved areas or raise costs and safety concerns. Health centers and university clinics urged change; physician groups and some medical witnesses opposed it.","actionData","errors"]

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House committee hears bill to shorten driver suspensions for some people with epilepsy

House committee hears competing testimony on bill to let nurse practitioners practice independently