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Hospitals and nurses urge Michigan to join nurse licensure compact; supporters cite staffing and telehealth benefits
Summary
Trinity Health Michigan and individual nurses testified in support of House Bill 4246 to allow Michigan to join the nurse licensure compact, citing roughly 5,000 nurse vacancies, benefits for telehealth and emergency redeployment, and no evidence that compact participation reduces care quality.
Representatives of health systems and bedside nurses told the House Health Policy Committee that House Bill 4246, which would allow Michigan to join the multi‑state nurse licensure compact, would help address staffing shortages and expand telehealth and virtual‑care options.
Dr. Doug DeCenzo, regional chief nursing officer for Trinity Health Michigan, testified that a Michigan Health and Hospital Association survey found “almost 5,000 nurse vacancies in hospitals statewide,” and said the compact would allow nurses to practice across state lines, “more easily, conveniently, and cost effectively,” which Trinity Health projects would improve access to care, including virtual connected care. DeCenzo said 41 states and two territories already participate in compacts and warned Michigan faces competitive disadvantage for recruiting nurses.
Sherry Martin, a longtime nurse and patient‑care advocate, provided personal testimony in support of the compact and described her clinical background and reasons for backing cross‑state practice flexibility.
Committee materials also recorded a number of stakeholders who filed “not wishing to speak” cards in support of the compact bills, including the American Physical Therapy Association of Michigan and the Michigan Occupational Therapy association; the transcript also listed organizations that filed cards but did not speak, including the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the Michigan Chamber, among others.
Why it matters: Supporters say compact membership would ease cross‑state recruitment, enable virtual nurses to serve hospitalized Michiganders regardless of licensure boundaries, and allow faster redeployment of nurses during emergencies. Speakers acknowledged concerns about differences in continuing‑education requirements across states but said there is no strong evidence that compact participation has reduced care quality.
Next steps: Committee members took testimony and read support and opposition cards; no final vote on HB 4246 was recorded in the transcript during this session.
Quote: “A nurse licensure compact in Michigan would allow nurses to practice more easily, conveniently, and cost effectively across state lines,” said Dr. Doug DeCenzo.
