Michigan House Bill 4002, which amends Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act, passed the state House of Representatives last week in a 67-38 bipartisan vote.
The bill, according to a press release from the Michigan Association of Chiropractors (MAC), includes an amendment ensuring chiropractic patients can use their earned sick time for conditions beyond those narrowly defined under federal law. For patients to use sick time beyond a couple of days, a healthcare provider’s certification is required by many employers.
As it was introduced, the bill’s wording would have aligned its definition of a healthcare provider with that of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which limits DCs’ recognition as healthcare providers only to cases involving spinal subluxation confirmed by X-ray.
The MAC worked to modify the bill’s language to prevent restrictions on chiropractic care access. Had the original language remained, chiropractic patients may have faced additional costs and administrative barriers, potentially needing documentation from a medical doctor for conditions already legally treatable by DCs under Michigan law.
On Jan. 23, the House Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses approved an amendment from Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown) clarifying that DCs, as defined under Michigan law, are healthcare providers and can certify earned sick time eligibility. The amendment passed 15-0 and was included in the final House-approved version of the bill.
Small business exemption included
HB 4002 also exempts small businesses with 50 or fewer employees from complying with the Earned Sick Time Act, which is set to take effect Feb. 21, 2025. Under current law, businesses with 10 or fewer employees would be required to provide 40 hours of paid sick time and 32 hours of unpaid leave annually. The exemption provides relief for many chiropractic practices.
The bill also clarifies employee classifications, excludes independent contractors and allows for upfront allocation of sick time.
Momentum for Michigan chiropractic legislation
This win comes on the heels of another positive development this year for Michigan DCs, who in January secured a legislative victory with the passage into law of House Bill 5956, which prohibits discrimination by healthcare provider type in Michigan’s state-regulated health insurance plans.
Next steps
HB 4002 now moves to the Michigan Senate, where revisions are likely, as the two chambers are controlled by different parties. The MAC Government Relations team reports it will continue to advocate for chiropractic patients and providers as the bill advances.
For more information, visit chiromi.com.
Chiropractic Economics staff will keep this story updated with any new developments.
