Michigan House Passes Conscience Bill For HMOs and Insurers

Wednesday's Detroit Free Press (via Blog From the Capital) reports that the Michigan House of Representatives has passed two bills permitting insurance companies and HMO's to exclude from coverage any health care benefit on ethical, moral or religious grounds reflected in its articles, bylaws or mission statement. (HB 4745 and HB 4746). The New Standard last month carried an excellent background piece on this legislation, and similar proposals pending in other states. State Representative Scott Hummel, sponsor of the Michigan bills, said that they are preemptive measures to protect against future state mandates, such as a requirement to cover in vitro fertilization.