The Michigan Legislature introduced House Bill 5182 to clarify employer responsibilities for medical care, enhance injured workers’ rights to choose their own providers, and introduce stricter enforcement and billing standards for healthcare services.

This bill directly affects the medical care obligations of employers and their payers. These changes improve access to care and protections for workers, while offering employers and providers clearer expectations and accountability.

Employers would be required to provide not only medical, surgical, hospital and medicines, but also dental services, crutches, prosthetics, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other devices. Some optometric, chiropractic, and physical therapy services are excluded unless they meet licensing criteria.

Injured workers would also be able to choose their own doctor 10 days after reporting the injury (previously 28 days after starting medical care). If the employer doesn’t provide timely care, they must pay for the chosen provider. Employers may object, but must they justify it at a hearing.

Employees or providers may request preauthorization for treatment. If not approved within 10 days, the employee may seek mediation or a hearing.

If care is delayed or denied, a magistrate can order payment for unpaid expenses, proposed treatments, and attorney fees (30% of awarded amount).

Providers receiving requests for billing from any party must submit within 60 days using a state-approved form. If not submitted within 180 days, they lose the right to collect payment. Unreasonable care won’t be reimbursed.