Press Release: Michigan Increasing Tax on Nurses
By Abigail Nobel
9-19-16
Lansing, MI — Increasing the price nurses must pay to work in Michigan is set to impact healthcare consumers and professionals as the Michigan House Health Policy Committee hears testimony on HB 5400, “Expand Scope of Practice for Nurses” on Tuesday, September 20.
As summarized by Mackinac Center, the purpose of the bill is “to revise the ‘scope of practice’ allowed for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (sic), making it possible for them to provide more medical services without being under the direct supervision of a physician.”
Bill language also doubles Registered Nurses’ licensure renewal fees in this legislation sponsored by State Rep. Ken Yonker, R-Caledonia.
“This is the part of the agency budget that has consistently been running in the red,” says a source within the capitol. “LARA [Licensing and Regulatory Administration] wants this increase so that RN fees pay for the program, so it’s self-sustaining. All the nurses organizations are for this bill.”
“Not this one,” says Abigail Nobel, health policy nurse and citizen activist. “I strongly object to the RN fee increase.” She cites the addition to anti-market pressures of Obamacare, which have driven many health professionals from practice and increased healthcare prices.
License Fee as Tax on Nurses
“LARA adds zero value to care here: this is nothing more than doubling down on a tax. If anything, license fees should be reduced to encourage more nurses to practice in Michigan,” Nobel states. “Everyone’s budget is tight. Government agencies like LARA should be looking for ways to cut spending, as Michigan taxpayers have been forced to do.”
Michigan has seen the numbers of actively-practicing RNs drop by almost 14% since 2012. RN license holders must renew every two years. Since 1989, the RN renewal fee has tripled to the current level of $60. HB 5400 doubles this to $120. This levy increase upon RNs in Michigan will gain LARA over $7 Million in revenue, assuming HB 5400 passes with the fee provision intact.
The Real Cost is Patient Access to Care
Nobel, a bachelors-prepared nurse with a Masters in Politics from Hillsdale, supports the stated purpose of the bill. “APRNs are long overdue for Michigan law to allow them to function to the level of their educational and training,” she maintains. “Expanded scope of practice also improves access to care for the public, especially if Nurse Practitioners were allowed to run a real business for profit.”
But for the greater good in Michigan’s healthcare market, she does call for the RN fee provision to be pulled from the bill. “Expanding practice for specialized nurses does not justify increased fees for over 100,000 working RNs. The state is taking with one hand, while it gives with the other. Lansing needs to hear from all of Michigan on this.”
Best,
Abby
Abigail Nobel, BSN, RN, MA
If you’d like to help with this or similar efforts, you can reach me at 616-970-3926
Definitely too much. You earned it, and you can spend it better than LARA can!
Your elected state rep and senator approved this. They can reverse it.
126.00 is too much. I suggest we all walk out at the beginning of our shifts!
Same here, Angela! I doubt wages will go up in response to this new “tax” on nurses, either.
I am not sure where the information came from that states, “Nurses are reimbursed by their employers” I have been a Nurse in Michigan since 1989 and have never been reimbursed for renewal of my Nursing License- That is absolutely not true. I have to agree with the other Nurses’ comments this does not feel fair that our renewal doubled while other professionals did not.
Welcome to Michigan, Kimberly. Your new state legislators will be campaigning soon in order to have the honor of representing you. Let them know how you feel!
SO ANGRY RIGHT NOW!!! ONCE AGAIN, MICHIGAN TAXES THE PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. DOUBLE RENEWAL FEES?! DID MY PITIFUL SALARY DOUBLE-NO!!! JUST MOVED BACK TO MICHIGAN FROM FLORIDA AND AM ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDED AT ALL THE TAXES WE PAY IN MICHIGAN VERSUS OTHER STATES. AND, NOT TO MENTION THE AMOUNT OF MONEY NURSES WASTE ON PAYING FOR USELESS CEUS!!! “employers reimburse them” I HAVE NEVER BEEN REIMBURSED BY AN EMPLOYER FOR MY RN LICENSE.
YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THIS HAS ON NURSES BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT BEING CARED FOR BY US. NURSES, NOT PHYSICIANS, SAVE LIVES.
Thanks for all you do, Kelly! You’re absolutely right about the MI economy. Licensure increase is only making it worse.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! WHY ARE NURSES GETTING THEIR COST TO RENEW DOUBLED AND OTHER LICENSES HAD A MINIMAL INCREASE? I RENEW MY LICENSE EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN’T WORKED IN MI IN OVER 7 YEARS SINCE I MOVED TO TEXAS. I WILL NOT RENEW THE NEXT TIME. THANKS MI JUST KEEP PUNISHING THE RELIABLE WORKERS AND THOSE DEDICATED TO LICENSE RENEWAL EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT WORK IN YOUR STATE ANYMORE. I LEFT BECAUSE YOUR JOB MARKET AND ECONOMY WAS SO BAD.
Seriously. A Lansing staffer actually told me the increase shouldn’t matter to nurses because employers reimburse them.
Please share this information with your friends and tell your state representative your views. Every House seat and half the MI Senate is up for re-election this year in the August Primary and November General Election. Our opinions should be as important to them as our votes!
Finding State Representatives: http://house.michigan.gov/mhrpublic/frmFindaRep.aspx
Finding State Senators: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html
this is crap!! i can understand maybe for an rn but 120 every 2 years for an lpn is unfair..there are hardly any decent jobs out there for us now this..i may not renew thats how bad it is..sickening!