Michigan House Bill HB4413

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/1/25
• Refer: 5/1/25
• Report Pass: 1/21/26
• Engrossed: 3/18/26
• Refer: 3/24/26

Caption

Mental health: other; hospital evaluations for assisted outpatient treatment; expand. Amends secs. 206a & 429 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1206a & 330.1429).

Summary

HB 4413 amends Michigan’s Mental Health Code in two main ways. First, it expands and formalizes a mediation process for disputes between a recipient of community mental health services (or the recipient’s representative, or a person eligible to petition for treatment) and a community mental health services program or its contracted provider. The bill requires that people be notified of the right to request mediation when services begin and at least annually, and again when other dispute-resolution processes are invoked. It also requires the state department to fund and contract with mediation organizations, sets qualifications for mediators, and establishes timelines for starting and completing mediation, along with procedures for written agreements and reporting outcomes to the department. Second, the bill makes technical changes to section 429 governing examinations of individuals presented for mental health evaluation. It clarifies that hospitals designated under the code may detain an individual for up to 24 hours for examination, and that a physician or licensed psychologist must examine the person unless a clinical certificate has already been provided. It also clarifies the timing and completion requirements for preadmission screening unit examinations, including the 2-hour completion standard and exceptions for documented medical reasons or agreed-upon alternative arrangements.

Impact

The bill would amend sections 206a and 429 of the Mental Health Code, affecting the rights and procedures for recipients of publicly funded behavioral health services, community mental health services programs, contracted providers, mediation organizations, hospitals, and preadmission screening units. It creates a new statewide mediation framework with mandatory participation by providers, enforceable settlement agreements, and reporting obligations to the state department, while preserving access to other remedies such as local appeals, Medicaid fair hearings, and recipient rights complaints. It also clarifies evaluation and detention procedures for individuals undergoing mental health examinations, but does not appear to change the underlying standards for hospitalization or treatment eligibility.

Sentiment

The available vote history suggests the bill was generally supported, at least in committee and on the House floor. It was reported from committee without amendment on a 13-0 vote and later passed the House on third reading by an 81-23 vote with immediate effect. That pattern indicates broad support for the bill’s dispute-resolution and procedural clarifications, though the floor vote shows there was still a meaningful minority of opposition.

Contention

The main points of contention likely center on the new mandatory mediation structure and the added obligations on community mental health programs and their contractors. Potential concerns include the cost of state-funded mediation, the requirement that providers participate when mediation is requested, the enforceability of settlement agreements, and whether the new process could complicate or delay existing grievance, appeal, or Medicaid fair-hearing procedures. The bill also touches on sensitive mental health evaluation and hospitalization procedures, which may raise concerns among advocates about due process, patient rights, and the balance between access to treatment and administrative efficiency.