State Legislation

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As a service to our clients, CorVel is providing links to information related to the COVID-19 pandemic provided by the states.

Michigan released an Executive Order 2020-36 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Legislature Status: No suspension or postponement of the legislative session has been announced.

• Michigan.gov coronavirus resource page.

• April 14, 2020 – The Governor released a statement after Hyundai Motor America announced that the city of Detroit Department of Health will receive a $100,000 grant and 10,000 test kits to support the states drive-thru testing efforts.
• April 13, 2020 – The Governor, along with 12 other Governors, sent a letter to Secretary Alex Azar and Administrator Seema Verma to ask that the Administration reconsider its decision and take swift action to allow for a special enrollment period of at least 30 days on the federal health care exchange.
• April 10, 2020 – The Governor announced that on April 13, self-employed workers, gig workers, 1099-independent contractors and low-wage workers affected by this public health emergency will be able to apply for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
• April 10, 2020 – The Governor signed an executive order that forbids people from traveling between homes in the state. This effectively eliminates the exception to the state’s stay-at-home order that had allowed people to travel between homes.

Legislation

• HR 242  Urges the Congress of the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide financial assistance to the state of Michigan and affected residents to address the novel coronavirus outbreak. Pending.
• HR 245 Prescribes Temporary Rules for Emergency Operation of the House of Representatives. Pending.
• SB 151  Provides supplemental appropriations for various state departments and agencies. Makes a one-time appropriation of $25 million from the state general fund to the Coronavirus public health emergency and response fund. Federal revenues up to $50 million authorized by and available from the federal government for the COVID-19 public health emergency are appropriated to departments for state and local preparedness and response activities. Enacted.
• HB 5633  Requires insurance coverage and treatment for coronavirus. Pending. 
• HB 5631 Provides for funding for the pandemic outbreak fund. Pending. 
• HB 5630  Provides for funding for the new coronavirus reporting requirements and requires Department of Health and Human Services to pay for certain costs related to coronavirus. Pending. 
• HB 4729 A sum of $125 million in one-time appropriations from the general fund to combat the coronavirus COVID-19. Enacted.

Michigan Regulatory Updates 07/11/2024

SB 927 – Worker’s Compensation: Other; Issuance of Policy; Modify. Amends Sec. 625 of 1969 Pa 317 (Mcl 418.625).

Issues: Workers’ Compensation (General)

Summary For 06/21/2024

This measure requires workers’ compensation insurers, or the Compensation Advisory Organization of Michigan on behalf of the insurer, to submit to the director notices of an insurance issuance, termination, or employer name change.

• The Director can create rules regarding filing fees for notice and a system for collecting filing fees.
• It prohibits filing fees when using agency-approved electronic record layout and transaction standards.

This measure takes effect immediately if passed by 2/3 of both chambers or 90 days after adjournment if not passed by 2/3 of both chambers

Most Recent Update:

• 06/20/2024 – Passed Committee; Passed Senate; Referred to House Appropriations Committee
• 06/13/2024 – Introduced; Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee

Michigan Regulatory Updates 07/02/2020

Effective COVID-19 Emergency Orders

Michigan Executive Order 125: COVID-19 Presumption

Whitmer’s order applies to people working in nursing homes, retirement homes, hospitals and county medical facilities. It also applies to police, firefighters, ambulance drivers, emergency medical technicians and nurses. And it covers correctional workers, members of emergency rescue teams and volunteer civil defense workers.

The presumption could be rebutted by “specific facts” showing a person wasn’t exposed to the new coronavirus at work.

Whitmer wrote in her order that the presumption is necessary because of the way COVID-19 is transmitted. Typically, workers’ compensation claimants have to prove they suffered an injury while performing job duties, she wrote.

“But due to the possibility of asymptomatic transfer of COVID-19, requiring a COVID-19 response employee to affirmatively demonstrate that they contracted COVID-19 in the course of their employment unduly shifts risk to the worker, and may therefore hinder Michigan’s emergency response by undermining confidence in the workers’ compensation system among the most critical members of the workforce,” the order issued Wednesday reads.

Clarifying WDCA Eligibility for Workplace Exposure to COVID-19

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death. It is caused by a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans and easily spread from person to person. There is currently no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for this disease.

On March 10, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services identified the first two presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. On that same day, I issued Executive Order 2020-4. This order declared a state of emergency across the state of Michigan under section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, as amended (EMA), MCL 30.401 et seq., and the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945, 1945 PA 302, as amended (EPGA), MCL 10.31 et seq.

Since then, the virus spread across Michigan, bringing deaths in the thousands, confirmed cases in the tens of thousands, and deep disruption to this state’s economy, homes, and educational, civic, social, and religious institutions. On April 1, 2020, in response to the widespread and severe health, economic, and social harms posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I issued Executive Order 2020-33. This order expanded on Executive Order 2020-4 and declared both a state of emergency and a state of disaster across the State of Michigan under section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the Emergency Management Act, and the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. And on April 30, 2020, finding that COVID-19 had created emergency and disaster conditions across the State of Michigan, I issued Executive Order 2020-67 to continue the emergency declaration under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, as well as Executive Order 2020-68 to issue new emergency and disaster declarations under the Emergency Management Act.

These executive orders have been challenged in Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate v. Whitmer. On May 21, 2020, the Court of Claims ruled that Executive Order 2020-67 is a valid exercise of authority under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act but that Executive Order 2020-68 is not a valid exercise of authority under the Emergency Management Act. Both of those rulings are being challenged on appeal.

On May 22, 2020, I issued Executive Order 2020-99, again finding that the COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a disaster and emergency throughout the State of Michigan. That order constituted a state of emergency declaration under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. And, to the extent the governor may declare a state of emergency and a state of disaster under the Emergency Management Act when emergency and disaster conditions exist yet the legislature had declined to grant an extension request, that order also constituted a state of emergency and state of disaster declaration under that act.

The Emergency Powers of the Governor Act provides a sufficient legal basis for issuing this executive order. In relevant part, it provides that, after declaring a state of emergency, “the governor may promulgate reasonable orders, rules, and regulations as he or she considers necessary to protect life and property or to bring the emergency situation within the affected area under control.” MCL 10.31(1).

Nevertheless, subject to the ongoing litigation and the possibility that current rulings may be overturned or otherwise altered on appeal, I also invoke the Emergency Management Act as a basis for executive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the effects of this emergency on the people of Michigan, with the intent to preserve the rights and protections provided by the EMA. The EMA vests the governor with broad powers and duties to “cop[e] with dangers to this state or the people of this state presented by a disaster or emergency,” which the governor may implement through “executive orders, proclamations, and directives having the force and effect of law.” MCL 30.403(1)–(2). This executive order falls within the scope of those powers and duties, and to the extent the governor may declare a state of emergency and a state of disaster under the Emergency Management Act when emergency and disaster conditions exist yet the legislature has not granted an extension request, they too provide a sufficient legal basis for this order.

Michigan’s COVID-19-response workers face regular exposure to a deadly and highly contagious virus. They do so to ensure that Michiganders have access to emergency medical care; that Michigan’s laws are enforced; that prisoners and pretrial detainees in state and local custody receive their constitutionally guaranteed rights; and that the safety and security of the State and its citizens remains protected.

The Workers’ Disability Compensation Act of 1969 (WDCA), MCL 418.101 et seq., affords important protections to Michigan’s workers and employers. In effectuating these protections, section 418.401 of the WDCA requires an employee seeking entitlement to wage-loss benefits to demonstrate, in part, the existence of a work-related injury that prevents the employee from performing his or her job duties. But due to the possibility of asymptomatic transfer of COVID-19, requiring a COVID-19-response employee to affirmatively demonstrate that they contracted COVID-19 in the course of their employment unduly shifts risk to the worker, and may therefore hinder Michigan’s emergency response by undermining confidence in the worker’s compensation system among the most critical members of the workforce.

Accordingly, acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I order the following:

1. “COVID-19-response employee” means an employee whose job responsibilities require them to have regular or prolonged contact with COVID-19 in the course of their employment. For purposes of this order, the following individuals are COVID-19-response employees:
   1. A person who is required to report to work in one of the following workplaces:
      1. An ambulance operation, as that term is defined in section 20902(5) of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, as amended, MCL 333.20902(5), including advanced mobile emergency care services;
      2. A county medical care facility, as that term is defined in section 20104(3) of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.20104(3);
      3. An emergency response service, as that term is defined in section 102(m) of the Emergency 9-1-1 Service Enabling Act, 1986 PA 32, as amended, MCL 484.1102(m);
      4. A home for the aged, as that term is defined in section 20106(3) of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.20106(3);
      5. A hospice, as that term is defined in section 20106(4) of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.20106(4);
      6. A hospital, as that term is defined in section 20106(5) of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.20106(5); or
      7. A nursing home, as that term is defined in section 20109(1) of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.20109(1).
   2. A person working in a home health agency, as that term is defined in section 20173a(15)(f) of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.20173a(15)(f), or a visiting nurse association, who is required to provide in-person medical care to patients.
   3. In addition to those persons identified in section 3(a) and (b) of this order, any person working as a physician, physician assistant, licensed practical nurse, registered professional nurse, medical first responder, nurse, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or respiratory therapist who is required to provide in-person medical care to patients.
   4. A law enforcement officer, as that term is defined in section 2(f) of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act, 1965 PA 203, as amended, MCL 28.602(f), to the extent the law enforcement officer is required to report to work and interact with the general public.
   5. A motor carrier officer within the Michigan Department of State Police as described in section 6d of the Michigan State Police Act, 1935 PA 59, as amended, MCL 28.6d.
   6. A firefighter, as that term is defined in section 1(n) of the Fire Prevention Code, 1941 PA 207, as amended, MCL 29.1(n).
   7. A member of an emergency rescue team, as described in section 161(j) of the WDCA, MCL 418.161(j), to the extent that the member is required to report to work and interact with the general public.
   8. A volunteer civil defense worker, as described in section 161(g) of the WDCA, MCL 418.161(g), to the extent that the worker is required to report to work.
   9. An on-call member of a life support agency, as described in section 161(h) and (i) of the WDCA, MCL 418.161(h) and (i), to the extent the member is required to report to work.
   10. A state or local government employee that is required to work within the secured perimeter of a penal institution, including but not limited to correctional facilities, jails, and detention centers.
2. For purposes of the WDCA, and subject to rebuttal by specific facts to the contrary, a first-response employee who is confirmed as COVID-19 positive on or after March 18, 2020, either by physician or by test, shall be presumed to have suffered a “personal injury,” as that term is defined by section 401(2)(b) of the WDCA, MCL 418.401(2)(b).
3. The Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is authorized to issue orders and directives necessary to implement this executive order.
4. This order replaces the emergency rules that LEO filed with the Secretary of State on March 30, 2020; those rules are hereby suspended.
5. If any portion of this order is finally adjudicated invalid, section 4 is void.
6. This order is effective immediately and does not terminate until the end of the states of emergency and disaster declared in Executive Order 2020-99 or the end of any subsequently declared states of disaster or emergency arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever comes later.

Michigan Services

• Workers’ compensation claims administration
• Medical bill review in compliance with state requirements
• Local PPO development and management
• Case management services

Michigan Resources

Michigan Compensation Website

Michigan Government Website