Governor Signs Bills Implementing Recommendations Made by Commission on End of Life Care
Governor John Engler today signed part of a 15-bill package implementing the recommendations made by the Commission on End of Life Care, which submitted its report in August last year.
"This bill package puts Michigan - once again - at the forefront of improving humane and dignified treatment for those at the end of life," said Governor Engler. "We now know that pain can be controlled. Physicians can focus on treating pain without bureaucratic hassles, and patients should expect their end-of-life treatment to be compassionate and effective."
The Governor signed bills that will help improve the quality of end-of-life care and pain and symptom management received by Michigan residents.
Highlights of the bill package include: -- Providing patients with the information necessary to make informed choices regarding their medical care;
-- Raising awareness and increasing knowledge about pain and symptom management and treatment, hospice and palliative care options, thereby allowing for better patient care;
-- Clarifying a patient's right to information and treatment options for pain and symptom management;
-- Removing barriers to appropriate prescribing of medication for pain and symptom management;
-- Establishing a new electronic monitoring system as a tool to discourage the diversion of controlled substances and assist law enforcement;
-- Providing avenues to make health care professionals aware of a patient's wishes and emergency medical information;
-- Raising awareness among enrollees, those insured and beneficiaries as to how covered benefits apply regarding the evaluation and treatment of pain; and
-- Raising awareness among nursing home residents regarding the availability of hospice care.
A list of the 15-bill package and a brief description of each bill follows.
HB 5255 - Requires health facilities to inform individuals about the availability of hospice care upon admission.
SB 826 - Requires nursing homes to inform individuals about the availability of hospice care upon admission.
SB 781 - Amends the Michigan Dignified Death Act to strike references to "life expectancy of less than six months: and replace language referring to "a patient with limited life expectancy due to advanced illness" and requires the dissemination of information to health professionals and the public.
HB 5258 - Requires physicians to disclose certain information regarding pain management to patients and strikes references to "life expectancy of less than six months" and replaces with language referring to "a patient with limited life expectancy due to advanced illness."
HB 5259 - Includes in the list of patient rights the right of a patient to adequate pain and symptom management as a basic and essential element of medical treatment.
HB 5260 - Repeals Michigan's Official Prescription Program and replaces it with an electronic monitoring system.
HB 5261 - Abolishes the Official Prescription Form Program Fund and creates the Pain Management Education and Controlled Substance Electronic Monitoring and Antidiversion Fund.
HB 5262 - Updates definitions associated with the prescribing of medications and the legitimacy of prescription forms.
SB 827 - Amends the Public Health Code by removing provisions associated with and referencing the Official Prescription Program.
SB 660 - Amends the Public Health Code by removing references to "intractable" pain and to the Official Prescription Program.
HB 5263 - Removes references of "intractable" pain in the Public Health Code.
SB 661 - Removes references of "intractable" pain in the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act.
SB 662 - Removes references of "intractable" pain in the Insurance Code.
HB 5148 - Requires the Secretary of State to provide applicants with the opportunity to specify on the back of a driver's license the designation of a patient advocate or emergency medical information.
SB 828 - Requires the Secretary of State to provide applicants with the opportunity to specify on the back of a driver's license the designation of a patient advocate or emergency medical information.
Printer Friendly
Text Version
Twitter
Facebook
Yahoo
Google
Digg
reddit
Newsvine
StumbleUpon
Bookmark
Email Page
