House Bill 5345 Summary

• Establishes the Michigan Health Benefits Program Act to consolidate health benefits for public employees under a uniform statewide program administered by a newly created Michigan Health Benefits Program Board.

• Creates a 13-member board with representation from employee groups, employers, retirees, and independent experts in healthcare to oversee plan adoption, financial stability, and program administration.

• Requires all public employers offering health benefits to participate in the MI health benefits program unless they demonstrate comparable benefits at 5% lower cost, with exceptions for existing contracts as of January 1, 2010.

• Mandates that public employee retirement systems offer only MI health benefits program plans to retirees effective January 1, 2010, subject to existing collective bargaining agreements.

• Creates the MI Health Benefits Fund as a restricted state treasury account to support the program, funded by participating public and private employers, with costs assessed based on program participation.