House Appropriations Committee Continued

[JulieS]

Interesting things from the Capitol today.

 

There is still discussion of privatizing the program. However MDCH has requested a statement from the Attorney General's Office regarding the legality of privatizing the approval/denial and confidentiality portions of the program.

 

MDCH has been hesitant to bring on any more staff while privatization is still on the table, however they have been instructed to bring on temporary staff to address the issue of lack of personnel.

 

The other half of the delay problem is the ID card printer. They are in the process of acquiring 2 more printers that will be able to produce more cards per day than the current equipment. The Chairman was very adamant that the requisition process be expedited asking the Department if they had the Governor holding their hand could they get it done in 30 days.

 

Further, the MDCH is finally reevaluating their method of processing cards and are going to adopt the program they use for licensing physicians, meaning, when the application is received notice is given. The committee then pounced on the issue of law enforcement not recognizing paperwork. The Department was squashy and unclear when asked if any one had made notice to the various law enforcement departments that the paperwork is legal.

 

The committee as a whole are behind patients and caregivers in this. They want law enforcement to stop arresting patients asap. It appears the the Department may have to finally make a broad sweep statement to all law enforcement. The chairman has recommended drafting boilerplate language in the Michigan State Police's budget to prevent further arrests of registered patients and caregivers.

 

Moving forward.

 

To be continued next week...

[mstone]

I'm glad they are finally addressing the issues at hand.

[welj31]

Interesting things from the Capitol today.

 

There is still discussion of privatizing the program. However MDCH has requested a statement from the Attorney General's Office regarding the legality of privatizing the approval/denial and confidentiality portions of the program.

 

MDCH has been hesitant to bring on any more staff while privatization is still on the table, however they have been instructed to bring on temporary staff to address the issue of lack of personnel.

 

The other half of the delay problem is the ID card printer. They are in the process of acquiring 2 more printers that will be able to produce more cards per day than the current equipment. The Chairman was very adamant that the requisition process be expedited asking the Department if they had the Governor holding their hand could they get it done in 30 days.

 

Further, the MDCH is finally reevaluating their method of processing cards and are going to adopt the program they use for licensing physicians, meaning, when the application is received notice is given. The committee then pounced on the issue of law enforcement not recognizing paperwork. The Department was squashy and unclear when asked if any one had made notice to the various law enforcement departments that the paperwork is legal.

 

The committee as a whole are behind patients and caregivers in this. They want law enforcement to stop arresting patients asap. It appears the the Department may have to finally make a broad sweep statement to all law enforcement. The chairman has recommended drafting boilerplate language in the Michigan State Police's budget to prevent further arrests of registered patients and caregivers.

 

Moving forward.

 

To be continued next week...

Thank you very much Julie for taking the time to post this. I was unable to atend as was our mutual friend. So thanks again. John

[TheFlyingBuddha]

Great News! Thanks for the post!

 

TFB

[+Silverblue]

Thank you for posting this news.

 

HMMM...... if there was a penalty for hassling/arresting, etc., legal patients, I bet they'd quit that crap real fast.

 

Sb

[christinax4]

yeah thanks for posting this julie...and btw,

 

 

"The committee as a whole are behind patients and caregivers in this. They want law enforcement to stop arresting patients asap. It appears the the Department may have to finally make a broad sweep statement to all law enforcement."

 

I can't believe this was never done to begin with!

[Weed Warrior]

All,

Your testimony was not in vain...

Some great questions were asked by the Committee and they were derived from all of the people who appeared that spoke and wrote those emails to their State Represenatives.

 

There will be 2 high speed printers coming on line that can print up to 320 cards per hour. Along with 10 additional staffers to help should put a dent into the backlog.

 

The debate is still open for privatizing the process and adding the ablility to register paitents remotely without having to mail in a form. Similar to e-filing the tax return.

 

The optimal soloution is when there is no need for the temporary "letter" of approval. Instead it will be a card within 20 days as required by law.

 

Keep those cards and letters coming to Lansing.... They hear our voices and feel our pain..

 

and we elected them...

 

remember that..

 

peace,

Richard.

[+Silverblue]

Thanks for sharing the news. I will pass this along as I have been doing. The people need to know who is on their side.

 

Sb