The state House adopted a bill that’s supposed to settle a controversy over mental health services in Michigan. The bill would stop proposed changes in a state rule on what licensed professional counselors can do. The bill says counselors could diagnose conditions and help develop treatment plans. That would also allow them to be reimbursed by insurance companies for their work.
State Representative Aaron Miller (R-Sturgis) says the system has worked for 30 years in Michigan, and there’s no reason to change it.
“If you’re looking for a simple solution, there is a simple solution," he said. "Let’s take the current practice, and let’s codify it into law.”
The bill now goes to the state Senate. If it’s approved there, it will go to Governor Gretchen Whitmer to be signed or vetoed.
