MI SB0579

Hospitals treating 50 or more emergency patients annually for opioid-related overdoses must implement an emergency-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program, with the Department of Health and Human Services able to require smaller hospitals to do so if deemed appropriate.

Hospitals required to implement MAT programs may opt out by completing a form developed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Department of Health and Human Services shall establish a grant program beginning 90 days after the effective date to provide financial support to hospitals for MAT program implementation, ceasing September 30, 2022, unless federal funds remain available.

Grant-receiving hospitals must maintain protocols and capacity to provide opioid agonist treatments (methadone, buprenorphine) and opioid antagonists, offer these treatments to consenting patients, ensure staff training compliance with federal requirements, and refer discharged patients to substance use disorder services.

Grant-receiving hospitals must coordinate patient transitions through face-to-face or direct telephone contact between emergency department staff and substance use disorder service providers when possible.