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House passes bills to speed medical certification of death certificates (HB4077, HB4078)
Summary
The House passed two bills to require timely physician certification of death records through the state’s secure electronic death-registration system; sponsors said the change will reduce delays families face when settling estates and funeral arrangements.
The Michigan House on April 22 passed two bills intended to modernize medical certification of death certificates by requiring physicians to use the state’s secure electronic death-registration system and by clarifying when the county medical examiner must certify a death.
Representative Rogers, who spoke on the package, said grieving families often cannot proceed with funerals, cremation, life-insurance claims or settling estates until a death certificate is certified. Rogers said the bills require timely certification through the state’s web-based electronic death-registration system (ERDS) and clarify when certification is the responsibility of a county medical examiner.
Rogers said the bills are reintroductions from the prior term and were developed in consultation with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association and the Michigan State Medical Society. She told the House a physician is required to complete the certification portion within 48 hours of being presented and that reliance on paper forms and faxing to funeral directors has been a source of delay.
After remarks, the House recorded roll-call votes. House Bill 4077 passed, 106-2, and House Bill 4078 passed, 106-2. Majority Floor Leader Pastumas moved for immediate effect on both; the House ordered immediate effect.
Discussion vs. decision: Floor discussion emphasized reducing delays for bereaved families, moving certification into the electronic death-registration system (ERDS) and clarifying county medical-examiner responsibilities. The votes enacted the changes described on the floor.
Votes at the vote: House Bill 4077 — 106 yeas, 2 nays (approved). House Bill 4078 — 106 yeas, 2 nays (approved). Immediate effect was ordered for both.
The measures now proceed to the Senate for consideration.
