Update: Michigan governor signs pro-chiropractic House Bill 5956 into law

On January 21, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed pro-chiropractic House Bill 5956 into law, reports the Michigan Association of Chiropractors.

The Senate passed the bill on Dec. 20, after it passed in the House on Dec. 10 by a vote of 57-51.

Now that the governor has signed it into law, its provisions take effect April 1.

How Bill 5956 benefits DCs

House Bill 5956 is legislation that codifies the provider non-discrimination language of Section 2706(a) of the Affordable Care Act in Michigan law, according to a Michigan Association of Chiropractors press release.

Developed by the Michigan Association of Chiropractors and introduced by state Representative Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), Chair of the House Health Policy and Financial Services Committee, House Bill 5956 reads:

An insurer that delivers, issues for delivery, or renews in this state a health insurance policy shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the health insurance policy against a health professional who is acting within the scope of the health professional’s license granted under article 15 of the public health code…

This legislation benefits DCs in that insurance providers are not allowed to base procedure coverage decisions on the type of provider rendering the service as long as the service is within the provider’s licensed scope of practice; for example, only covering a procedure if performed by an MD, paying one type of provider more than another type for the same covered service or creating unreasonably high deductibles and copays for one provider type over another. Insurers are also prohibited from requiring credentialing for a covered service that only certain types of providers can obtain, thus barring other provider types from being able to render that service.

While the bill prohibits discrimination based on type of provider, it does not require insurers to contract with any health professional willing to abide by that insurer’s terms and conditions for participation, and does not prevent insurers from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.

House Bill 5956’s history

House Bill 5956 has 25 co-sponsors, including: Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), Chair, Main Sponsor; Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield Township); Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw); Mai Xiong (D-Warren); Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor); Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe); Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo); Cynthia Neely (D-Flint); Stephanie Young (D-Detroit); Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield); Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia); John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming); Victoria Paiz (D-Harper Woods); Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor); Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek); Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit); Sharon MacDonnell (D-Troy); Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park), Majority Vice Chair; Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids); Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor); Kara Hope (D-Holt); Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township); Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn); Jenn Hill (D-Marquette); Helena Scott (D-Detroit); and Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck).

The bill was favorably reported by the Michigan House Insurance and Financial Services Committee by a 9-1 vote in November, so it moved to the full Michigan House of Representatives, where it passed by a vote of 57-51 on Dec. 10. The Michigan Senate passed the bill on Dec. 20, and Gov. Whitmer signed it into law on Jan. 21.

The new law takes effect April 1, 2025.

Chiropractic Economics will update this story if any further news about this bill develops.

For more information, visit chiromi.com.