HB 5626 Summary

• Requires physicians to provide patients with referral information for perinatal hospice care and inform them of Michigan's stillbirth certificate recognition when a prenatal test detects a life-limiting condition.

• Mandates physicians inform patients of scientific information about health outcomes, life expectancy, development potential, and quality of life for prenatally diagnosed conditions, along with referrals to early intervention services, peer support groups, and adoption agencies.

• Requires health facilities providing obstetric care with social work or chaplaincy services to inform their staff about certified perinatal hospice programs.

• Directs the Department of Health to establish certification criteria for perinatal hospice programs, review applications, provide written rejection explanations, and maintain a public list of certified programs on the state website.

• Defines "perinatal hospice care" as comprehensive medical and supportive care for pregnant women and families from diagnosis of a life-limiting condition through birth and death of the child.