MBIPC calls on Senate Majority Leader Shirkey to stop stonewalling vital legislation that will protect access to care for accident victims

Fix needed well in advance of July 1 to avoid chaos for providers and patients 

BRIGHTON, Mich. — (March 16, 2021) — The Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council today called on Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) to not obstruct a narrow legislative fix which would protect access to care for patients across the state — without adding cost to the system.  

House Bill 4486 proposes limits on how much post-acute care providers can charge — which saves insurance companies money — while enabling patients to access care and providers to remain in business.  

Unless HB 4486 is passed now — well in advance of July 1, 2021, when a jobs-killing fee schedule goes into effect — access to care for thousands of victims will be in serious peril. On Monday, Shirkey released a statement saying that the Senate would not take up a fix until the fee schedule is “fully implemented and objective data has been granted.”

“It’s unfortunate that Senate Majority Leader Shirkey refers to accident victims and hard-working healthcare providers as ‘data’ — these are real people who will suffer without a fix, not just numbers,” said MBIPC President Tom Judd. “We don’t have time to take a wait-and-see approach when lives and livelihoods are on the line. We have families who have no idea how they are going to care for their loved ones, many of whom have highly specialized needs and require assistance with feeding, clothing and bathing themselves. We have businesses that are staring down a government-mandated 45% reduction in revenue and they don’t know how they’re going to keep their doors open. We are hurtling toward chaos — we can’t just sit back and wait until the industry collapses and accident victims are left with nowhere to go.”  

The bill does not impact other cost-saving measures of the state’s auto insurance reform, including Personal Injury Protection choice, cracking down on fraud, and more. Lawmakers and stakeholders have been in constant communication since auto insurance reform was passed, to ensure that HB 4486 is in line with the intent of reform.

“Failure to pass this technical correction for the auto no-fault fee schedule will leave thousands of auto accident survivors without the ability to access the care they require, and it will result in substantial job loss across Michigan,” Judd said. “The impact this will have on Michiganders is monumental and will be felt by everyone in this state for years to come.” 

Judd noted that accident victims paid their auto insurance premiums with the understanding that they would receive the necessary care they needed should they ever get into a catastrophic accident. That promise is now in danger of being broken, he said.

“Every day, brain injury providers provide highly ethical and compassionate care to seriously injured individuals with diverse, specialized needs,” Judd said. “Nothing is more fulfilling than seeing patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries overcome challenges and strive to lead healthy, productive lives. Sadly, the quality of life for thousands of accident victims is in grave jeopardy unless the Michigan Legislature passes this fix soon.”

HB 4486 was introduced last week by Rep. Doug Wozniak of Shelby Township.