AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLEAN HEAT STANDARD ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Bennett and 8 co-sponsors

Michigan Medicaid covers pregnancy-specific, individually fitted blood pressure monitors for pregnant or postpartum individuals.

02/06/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Summary — HB 5167 (Public Act 244 of 2024)

Title: Amend 1939 PA 280 (The Social Welfare Act) by adding MCL 400.109o — Medicaid coverage for blood pressure monitors for pregnant or postpartum individuals.

Summary of purpose
- Requires Michigan Medicaid to provide medical assistance coverage for a blood pressure monitor that is designed for use during pregnancy and fitted to the individual for any person who is pregnant or within a postpartum period.
- The provision is added as section 109o to the Social Welfare Act (MCL 400.109o).

Key provisions
- Coverage: An individual who is pregnant or is within a postpartum period is eligible for Medicaid coverage of a pregnancy‑specific, individually fitted blood pressure monitor.
- Scope: The bill does not add broader limits or cost‑sharing language in the statute text; it establishes eligibility for Medicaid medical assistance for the device.
- Statutory change: Adds a new section (MCL 400.109o) to 1939 PA 280.

Who is affected
- Primary: Medicaid enrollees who are pregnant or in the postpartum period — they become explicitly eligible to receive a pregnancy‑specific fitted blood pressure monitor through Medicaid.
- State budget/administration: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Medicaid program) — potential increased device expenditures.
- Clinical/public health: Obstetric care providers and maternal health advocates; potential indirect benefits from improved home monitoring and earlier detection of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia).

Fiscal impact and implementation notes
- Estimated upper‑bound cost: committee analyses estimated a maximum FY2024‑25 impact around $2.3 million Gross (about $0.8–0.855 million GF/GP), assuming broad utilization.
- Unit price referenced: Medicaid Provider Fee Schedule entry (CPT A4670 for automatic blood pressure monitor) cited at $62.30 per unit (October 2024 / July 2023 schedules referenced).
- Federal share (FMAP) used in estimates: approximately 65.13%–65.32% federal participation.
- Notes from analysts: The fiscal impact may be substantially lower because current Medicaid policy already covers manual or automatic blood pressure monitors for beneficiaries meeting certain clinical criteria, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The number of additional beneficiaries newly covered under the statute is uncertain.

Related measures and stakeholder input
- A companion bill (HB 5168) addressed private insurer coverage of pregnancy/postpartum blood pressure monitors.
- Supporters who testified or submitted positions included the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse‑Midwives (MI), American Heart Association, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, and other maternal health organizations.

Procedural history / effective date
- Introduced in House: Oct 17, 2023 (Rep. Cynthia Neeley).
- Passed House: June 26, 2024 (substitute H‑1).
- Passed Senate: Dec 19, 2024.
- Enrolled and approved by Governor: Jan 21, 2025.
- Filed with Secretary of State / Assigned Public Act: Filed Jan 21, 2025 — Assigned Public Act No. 244 of 2024.
- Effective date: April 2, 2025.

Statutory citation added
- New statutory section: MCL 400.109o (added to 1939 PA 280).