Michigan Farm Bureau members have a real concern for their family’s good health.
We support:
Requiring hospitals in Michigan to report their infection statistics.
Legislation to limit malpractice liability awards including capping malpractice settlements and strengthening licensing disciplinary action.
The integration of the health delivery systems’ community health, mental health and substance abuse programs, which serve the same set of counties.
Increased suicide prevention and mental illness awareness campaigns with funding and training for medical and emergency service providers.
Assertive community treatment programs, such as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, to serve, help, prevent, diagnose and treat those in need.
A private and affordable health care plan that allows for additional benefits at the consumer’s option.
Methods to reduce the cost of prescription drugs that will best benefit all individuals.
Health education to encourage consumers of health care to question physicians, hospital staff and administration about procedures and costs regarding their own health care.
Itemized billing.
Insurance incentives for a healthy lifestyle.
Health insurance premiums being 100 percent tax deductible for all policy purchasers immediately.
Health Savings Accounts and Medical Savings Accounts.
Medicare and Medicaid payments that cover expenses in full to hospitals. Rural hospitals should not be discriminated against by using a lower cost of living scale.
An individual’s right to select treatment options which should be respected, and we encourage the use of living wills and/or Durable Power of Attorney for health care.
Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives, and certified holistic healthcare providers being able to receive reimbursement for their services from insurance companies, Medicaid and Medicare.
Organ and blood donations.
Programs that encourage medical professionals to locate in rural areas, including the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services programs supporting placement of foreign-born doctors in rural areas.
The development of a method to return unused prescription drugs to a licensed pharmacist for disposal.
Employers being exempted from mandatorily providing health care coverage to any employee who falls under the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act.
The expansion of home and community-based long-term care.
Local healthcare facilities be allowed to decide if they should remain open during both normal and emergency circumstances.
All healthcare be considered essential in the event of a crisis or pandemic.
We oppose:
Any state or federal program requiring employers to provide health insurance for employees and their dependents.
Any tax on an agricultural commodity being used to fund a health care program.