House Bill 5773 would amend Michigan’s Public Health Code to require certain health professionals who are licensed or registered under the code to refer a patient to a diagnostic center for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) that has been designated by the Department of Health and Human Services as a center of excellence. The referral requirement applies in two situations: when the patient is a minor being treated for a condition related to prenatal alcohol exposure, or when the patient is a pregnant woman whom the provider knows or has reasonable cause to suspect is consuming alcohol.
The bill is focused on earlier identification and specialized evaluation of FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure. It does not create a new treatment program or criminal penalty; rather, it adds a mandatory referral step for covered providers when the specified circumstances are present. By directing patients to state-recognized diagnostic centers, the bill would likely increase use of specialized FASD assessment resources and could affect clinical practice for physicians and other licensees or registrants under the Public Health Code.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new section to the Public Health Code and impose a statutory referral obligation on covered health care providers. It would affect providers treating minors with suspected prenatal alcohol-related conditions and providers who suspect alcohol use during pregnancy, while also elevating the role of DHHS-designated FASD centers of excellence in the diagnostic pathway. The bill would not appear to change licensing standards broadly, but it would create a specific duty tied to patient referral and specialized diagnosis.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears to be preventive and public-health oriented. The proposal is framed as a targeted measure to improve identification of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and connect patients to specialized care. No formal opposition or support is documented in the available context, so there is no recorded controversy in the materials provided.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to involve the scope of the referral mandate and how providers determine when they have 'reasonable cause to suspect' alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Some may question whether the requirement could create additional administrative burden for clinicians or raise concerns about patient privacy, stigma, or the provider-patient relationship. Others may support the bill as a way to improve early diagnosis and intervention for children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and to encourage treatment engagement for pregnant patients.