HB 5985 — Health occupations: pharmacists; Michigan essential health provider recruitment strategy; expand to include pharmacists. Amends secs. 2701 & 2705 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.2701 & 333.2705).
Last action — referred to second reading
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1Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced June 17, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.
Odds of enactment
Low chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.
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Prognosis
Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.
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In plain language
The bill expands Michigan's health provider recruitment strategy to include pharmacists.
This legislation amends existing laws to add pharmacists to the Michigan essential health provider recruitment strategy. It aims to enhance the workforce of health providers in the state.
What this means for you
- Families: Families may benefit from improved access to medication management and health services from pharmacists.
- Healthcare: This means increased recruitment efforts for pharmacists, which could enhance healthcare access in Michigan.
Summary
Health occupations: pharmacists; Michigan essential health provider recruitment strategy; expand to include pharmacists. Amends secs. 2701 & 2705 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.2701 & 333.2705).
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
144 added · 144 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of Bill HB 5985 clarifies the definitions of several healthcare professionals, specifically certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists. It now emphasizes the role of the Michigan board of nursing in granting specialty certifications for these positions. This change matters because it ensures that the qualifications of advanced practice nurses are clearly defined, which can help enhance patient care and safety by establishing standardized criteria for these medical professionals.
SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
5985 MayA 19,bill 2026,to Introducedamend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public health code," by Rep.amending sections 2701 and 2705 (MCL 333.2701 and 333.2705), section 2701 as amended by 2022 PA 38 and section 2705 as amended by 2022 PA 37.
Kunse and referred to Committee on Health Policy.
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public health code," by amending sections 2701 and 2705 (MCL 333.2701 and 333.2705), section 2701 as amended by 2022 PA 38 and section 2705 as amended by 2022 PA 37.
(a) "Board certified" means certified to practice in a particular medical specialty by a national board recognized by the EMR H06950'26_HB5985_INTR_1 pm14qw 1 American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association.
(b) "Certified nurse midwife" means an individual who is licensed as a registered professional nurse under part 172 who has EMR H06950'26 (H-1) rfvu0p 1 been granted a specialty certification in the practice of nurse midwifery by the Michigan board of nursing under section 17210.
EMR H06950'26_HB5985_INTR_1 pm14qw 1 (i) "Designated physician" means a physician qualified in 1 of the physician specialty areas identified in section 2711.
(j) "Designated professional" means a designated physician, designated advanced practice registered nurse, dentist, physician's EMR H06950'26 (H-1) rfvu0p 1 assistant, pharmacist, or designated mental health professional.
EMR H06950'26_HB5985_INTR_1 pm14qw 1 (s) "National Health Service Corps" means the agency established under 42 USC 254d.
EMR H06950'26 (H-1) rfvu0p 1 (u) "Nursing program" means an accredited program for the training of individuals to become nurses.
(1) The department shall administer an essential health provider repayment program for designated professionals who have incurred a debt or expenses as a result of a loan taken to attend a medical school, a dental school, a mental health professional program, a nursing program for the training of certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, or EMR H06950'26_HB5985_INTR_1 pm14qw 1 clinical nurse specialists-certified, a pharmacy school, or a physician's assistant program or as a result of providing services in a health resource shortage area.
The department may each year repay all or part of a designated professional's debt or expenses, EMR H06950'26 (H-1) rfvu0p 1 but the amount repaid in any 1 year shall must not exceed the amount described in subsection (3).
A designated professional who does not fulfill a service obligation for a particular year forfeits his or her the designated profesisonal'sprofessional's right to the debt or expense repayment or any part of it for that year and the department may treat an agreement for further debt or expense repayment in a subsequent year as void.
In its sole discretion, the department may pay a pro rata amount of an agreed debt or expense repayment to a designated professional or his or her the designated professional's estate if 1 of the following occurs before the completion of the designated EMR H06950'26_HB5985_INTR_1 pm14qw 1 professional's service obligation:
EMR H06950'26 (H-1) rfvu0p 1 (c) Other circumstances prevail that are considered by the department to constitute a compelling reason to consider the service obligation fulfilled.
Final Page EMR H06950'26_HB5985_INTR_1H06950'26 pm14qw(H-1) rfvu0p
View plain text versions (2)
- Substitute Substitute (H-1) Current pdf
- Introduced House Introduced Bill pdf
Action History
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referred to second reading
Sponsors
- Tom Kunse · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Tom Kunse Republican
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (146)
146 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 146 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 5985 do?
- Health occupations: pharmacists; Michigan essential health provider recruitment strategy; expand to include pharmacists. Amends secs. 2701 & 2705 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.2701 & 333.2705).
- Who sponsors HB 5985?
- HB 5985 is sponsored by Tom Kunse (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 5985?
- This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced June 17, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track HB 5985?
- Track HB 5985 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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