Behavioral Health Transportation Licensing

Current understanding

Michigan’s Mental Health Code (1974 PA 258) does not currently license behavioral health transportation as a distinct category. HB 5943 (103rd Legislature) would add a new Chapter 9B to the Mental Health Code establishing a licensing framework for behavioral health transportation providers, tie-barred to HB 5944. The bill is introduced; entities providing non-emergency transportation of behavioral health patients would newly fall under state licensure, while consumers would gain a regulated standard of care.

Evidence log

• 2026-05-12 — Human services: medical services; coverage for behavioral health transportation; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 109y. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5943’26: HB 5944 (tie-barred companion) would add sec. 109y to the Social Welfare Act to provide Medicaid coverage for behavioral health transportation services, pairing the licensing framework in HB 5943 with a funding/coverage mechanism; introduced. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-05-12 — Health: licensing; behavioral health transportation licensing requirements; provide for. Amends 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1001 - 330.2106) by adding ch. 9B. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5944’26: cross-connection with ambulance-ems-licensing: Both establish state licensure for patient transport services, but behavioral health transportation is being created under the Mental Health Code while ambulance/EMS operations are licensed under the Public Health Code. (novelty: 3)

Open questions

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