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Committee hears bills to require physicians to certify deaths in state electronic system
Summary
The Michigan House Health Policy Committee on Wednesday heard testimony on House Bills 4077 and 4078, measures that would require physicians to enter cause-of-death determinations directly into the state Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) and clarify when county medical examiners must certify death certificates.
The Michigan House Health Policy Committee on Wednesday heard testimony on House Bills 4077 and 4078, measures that would require physicians to enter cause-of-death determinations directly into the state Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) and clarify when county medical examiners must certify death certificates. Representatives Thomas Rogers and Matthew Mueller presented the bills and answered committee questions.
Supporters told the committee that the bills aim to shorten delays families now face when physicians do not use the EDRS and instead provide paper or faxed medical certifications that funeral directors must re-enter into the system.
"When families are forced to wait, it causes all sorts of issues," said Sarah Jensen Vatter, owner and funeral director at Palmer Jensen Bush Funeral Homes in Lansing, who testified with Jared Rozicky of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. Vatter described cases in which religious rites and burial timelines were delayed because a signed medical certificate was not available.
The bills would require physicians…
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