Michigan LARA Creates New Health Care Services Bureau

On October 18, 2012, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (“LARA”) announced that it will be combining the current Bureau of Health Professions (“BHP”),which governs individual licensed and registered health care providers such as physicians and nurses, and the Bureau of Health Systems (“BHS”), which governs licensed health care entities such as hospitals and ASCs, into one new entity called the Bureau of Health Care Services (“BHCS”). The purpose of this consolidation into one entity is to make Michigan’s regulatory system “simple, fair and efficient” while still protecting the vulnerable. A review of the licensing administrative processes for both the BHP and BHS began last month but significant changes to the basic requirements for licensure are not anticipated. The changes are expected to be more focused on internal processing proposals with a desire to make the licensing application process more efficient. A director for the new bureau has not yet been selected.

For additional information regarding health care licensing, please contact Robert S. Iwrey, Esq. at (248) 996-8510 or (212) 734-0128 or visit The HLP website.