Michigan

July, 2025 By

Paul Warrick and Debbi Silverstein, Michigan for Single Payer Healthcare; update by OPS staff

State-based SP organizations (state, national)

State-based SP bills:

HB 4407 (2025)

https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2025-2026/billintroduced/House/pdf/2025-HIB-4407.pdf

To provide for the establishment of a universal and unified health care system and to reform the current payment system for health care coverage in this state (pending passage of federal waivers); Coverage for all Michigan residents. Funding will be separate.

Sponsor: Carrie Rheingans (district 47)

Co-sponsors: 22 (of 110)

Status: Introduced 4/29/25

Obstacles to SP in the current context

  • Establishment Democrats and those in purple districts

  • Governor Whitmer not a single payer supporter

Advantages for SP in the current context

  • The concept of SP is not completely new in Michigan.

  • First SP bill (MICare) was introduced in 2018 by former State Rep. Yousef Rabhi.

  • The Michigan Democratic Party passed a M4A resolution in 2022.

  • Well-known national Single Payer advocate, Abdul El-Sayed, is running for Senator in 2026. He keeps a strong focus on health care reform and participates in campaigns to improve conditions in the state, such as working with advocacy groups to cancel medical debt.

  • Rep. Rheingans is a strong supporter of the State-Based Universal Health Care Act (“SBUHCA” HR 4406 and S 2286). She attended the launch of SBUHCA in Washington DC in July of 2025, and convened sponsors of state-based bills from several other states to join her. She is creating a nationwide network to promote the M4A bills across many states, envisioning a legislative exchange.

Goals for SP movement in MI 2025-26

To educate the public as much as possible about single payer and to encourage support for legislation. Encourage contacting/lobbying legislators to back the bill and to hold committee hearings.

Where can people find news about Single Payer in your state and/or join a group?*