MBIPC Applauds Speaker Tate’s Commitment to Ending Care Crisis; Calls on House to Move Senate Bill Package
Judd: ‘We know the will to end this crisis is there’
BRIGHTON, Mich.—(Jan. 12, 2024)—Tom Judd, executive director of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council, today applauded Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate for being the latest state leader to commit to revisiting Michigan’s flawed 2019 auto insurance law and cooperating with the state Senate and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to end Michigan’s catastrophic care crisis.
While speaking on the inaugural episode of the newly re-envisioned MichMash podcast, under a new partnership between Gongwer News Service and WDET Detroit Public Radio, Tate said that “some changes are required” to the 2019 law and noted the legislature needed to make sure they are “getting it right.”
Judd shared this statement below:
“We appreciate Speaker Tate’s dedication to ensuring that the next iteration of Michigan’s auto insurance law works for consumers, crash survivors and care providers alike. However, it’s important to note that such a plan already exists. Senate Bills 530, 531 and 575—which were passed by the state Senate last fall—would end the care crisis by implementing a reasonable, sustainable and fair fee schedule for rehabilitation and long-term care services. In addition, these bills will ultimately bring down insurance costs by reducing unnecessary delays and litigation.
For survivors of catastrophic car crashes, time is of the essence. Every day that passes without a fix to this crisis is another day that potential rehabilitative progress is lost. Another day that exhausted family members must struggle to provide care to their loved ones because they have no other options. Another day that needless suffering—and even death—continues to occur.
We know the will to end this crisis is there. Gov. Whitmer had committed to working with the Legislature to ensure a bill gets to her desk. The Senate has already done its part. We call on Speaker Tate to keep this issue a top priority and guide the House toward a quick passage of Senate Bills 530, 531 and 575, for the sake of so many suffering families.”
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Members of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council are committed to providing high-quality, ethical rehabilitation services, with the mission of achieving the best outcomes for patients. As a trade association established in 1987 and based in Brighton, Michigan, MBIPC offers resource-sharing, information exchange, professional development and education, advocacy for brain injury standards of care and legislation protecting Michigan families, and the promotion of ethical conduct.