House votes 102-1 to codify MDHHS Medicaid rule expanding speech-language pathology access
Loading...
Summary
The Michigan House on Oct. 21 passed House Bill 4484, codifying a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services rule that removes a private certification requirement for Medicaid reimbursement to speech-language pathologists, a change lawmakers and the sponsor said will expand access for low-income Michiganders.
The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4484 on Oct. 21 by a 102-1 roll-call vote, advancing a change to the Social Welfare Act that codifies a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) rule expanding Medicaid reimbursement for speech-language pathology services.
Representative Fox, sponsor of the bill, told the House that the measure “codifies a rule implemented earlier this year by MDHHS that expands access to speech language pathology services, particularly for low income Michiganders.” She said the bill removes a requirement that practitioners hold a private Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement. “Prior to the aforementioned rule change, speech language pathologists were required to obtain a certificate of clinical competence, best known as a CCC, from the American Speech Hearing Association, to receive reimbursement for services provided for Medicaid recipients,” Fox said.
Fox argued the CCC was effectively an extra cost borne by clinicians and that codifying the MDHHS rule aligns state law with federal Medicaid requirements. “In other words, speech language pathologists had to pay to play,” she said, adding that the bill “honors the voices of those who have dedicated their careers to making others heard.”
Clerk announcements recorded the final tally: 102 ayes and 1 nay. Representative Pai was recorded as the sole vote in opposition. Following passage, the majority floor leader moved and the House ordered immediate effect.
The bill’s sponsor and supporters framed the change as preserving access for Medicaid beneficiaries and eliminating a private-certification barrier; the record shows no floor amendments were adopted on third reading. The legislation amends the Social Welfare Act to reflect the MDHHS rule change. The MDHHS rule referenced in debate and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) were cited in sponsors’ remarks but are not legal authorities in the bill text itself.
Votes at the end of the floor debate were recorded electronically and announced by the clerk. Immediate effect was ordered following passage.
