Governor signs the CARE Act

Gov. Rick Snyder signed the Michigan CARE Act on April 13, providing help to an unpaid silent army about 2 million strong who make it possible for older Michiganders to live independently at home.

The Michigan Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act, which takes effect in 90 days, will support and equip family caregivers with the basic information and training they need when their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home.

The governor signed the bill in the George W. Romney Building in Lansing flanked by 20 AARP Michigan volunteers and staff and Sen. Margaret O'Brien, the bill sponsor.

"This new act will support the needs of Michigan's growing senior population," the governor said in a statement. "Not only will this help patients in need, it will also ensure caregivers will receive the education and information they need to safely provide care for their friend or loved one once they return home from the hospital."

 

Paula D. Cunningham, AARP Michigan State Director, commented: “Family caregivers across our state thank the Governor and the Legislature for enacting this law. Caregivers bear a huge responsibility and the CARE Act will help them perform their labor of love.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 352, was passed unanimously by the Senate in December and overwhelmingly by the House in March.

In Michigan, there are 2 million caregivers at any point in the year who devote 1.4 billion hours in unpaid care to loved ones at a total value of $15.5 billion, according to a report by AARP’s Public Policy Institute.

Michigan becomes the 25th state to adopt the CARE Act. AARP has championed the introduction of the legislation in more than 30 states.

The Michigan CARE Act is intended to help families when a loved one is admitted to a hospital by ensuring that hospitals:

• Record the name of the family caregiver;
• Notify the family caregiver when the patent is going to be discharged back home or moved to another facility;
• Provide instructions to the caregiver about any medical tasks he or she will need to perform when the patient comes home.

 

Groups supporting the bill include AARP Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan, Michigan Directors of Services to the Aging, Michigan Association of Health Plans, Sparrow Health System, Henry Ford Health System, Trinity Health, the Wolverine State Missionary Baptist Convention, Astra Zeneca, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, and Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapters.

The CARE Act has overwhelming support across Michigan, according to a fall EPIC/MRA survey. The poll shows 71 percent of state voters support the CARE Act, while only 12 percent oppose and 17 percent were undecided or refused to respond.