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Witness urges Michigan House panel to probe alleged psychiatric fraud as committee advances two mental‑health bills
Summary
A committee heard testimony from a woman who said she was wrongfully declared incapacitated and urged passage of House Bills 42‑18 and 42‑19 to allow outside review of mental‑health actions; both bills were reported to the floor 15‑0.
The Michigan House Health Policy Committee heard testimony supporting House Bills 42‑18 and 42‑19 and unanimously reported both bills to the House floor.
Brenda McGee, who identified herself as a former social worker and Republican precinct delegate, told the committee she supports HB 42‑18 and HB 42‑19 and asked the panel to allow outside investigations into what she described as “psychiatric fraud.” She said she has been listed in a state database as an “incapacitated person” and asked the committee to help clear her name.
McGee said she was taken to a mental‑health screening site in November 2017 and later admitted to what she called Havenwick (also referenced as Havenwood) Hospital. “I was a victim of psychiatric fraud,” she said. “My incident was covered up. I filed a recipient rights complaint.” She told lawmakers she believes federal authorities later recovered more than $2,000,000 related to Medicaid fraud tied to the provider she named.
McGee described an incapacitated person as someone “legally unable to make decisions or manage their affairs” and cited “Michigan compiled law 330.1401” when pressing the committee on the statutory standard she said was applied to her. She asked that the bills allow outsiders to investigate allegations of mental‑health abuse and keep patients from being retained in facilities for financial reasons.
Representative Jamie Thompson was listed as a point of contact for McGee’s written materials; Representative Brenda Carter asked McGee for her city of residence during a short exchange. No committee member disputed McGee’s account during the public testimony period.
On procedure, Representative Schmaltz moved to adopt the minutes of the May 21 meeting without objection. Later in the hearing the committee took roll calls and recorded unanimous votes (15‑0, 0 nays, 0 pass) to report HB 42‑18 and HB 42‑19 to the floor; the committee also adopted an H‑1 substitute for HB 42‑19 by voice with a recorded 15‑0 vote.
Votes at a glance: HB 42‑18 — reported with recommendation (15‑0); HB 42‑19 — H‑1 substitute adopted and bill reported with recommendation (15‑0).
The committee did not take further action on Ms. McGee’s request for an outside investigation during this meeting; she said she would provide supporting documents to Representative Thompson after the hearing.
The committee moved on after receiving McGee’s testimony and a formal roll call on the two bills.
