The deadline for unlicensed Medical Marihuana businesses to continue operating will officially expire March 31. Starting April 1, cease and desist letters will be sent to facilities who are still undergoing the license process by the State of Michigan – they will be forced to shut down until they receive a license.

For the licensed facilities, their ability to purchase from suppliers who are still going through the license process will also expire.

Considering there are still not enough licensed suppliers, The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is recommending that certain licensed facilities can still purchase from unlicensed suppliers after March 31. This recommendation is an effort to ensure there is not a shortage of products for medical marijuana patients.

The State of Michigan is doing their best to base decisions on what is best for patient access, and this recommendation is a positive step; however, maintaining all aspects of patient access needs to remain a priority.

There are currently only 54 licensed provisioning centers in Michigan – this is not nearly enough options for medical marijuana patients.

If the State of Michigan is going to recognize the need for a larger supply of products, it would be appropriate to extend the same concerns regarding where patients can purchase medication.

How is patient access defined?

One of the most notable foundations regarding patient access includes the following:

Affordability – Is the patient willing and able to pay the provider’s charges? In the employer-sponsored healthcare construct, this generally refers to ability to meet out-of-pocket expenses and costs before the deductible is met.

– Is the patient willing and able to pay the provider’s charges? In the employer-sponsored healthcare construct, this generally refers to ability to meet out-of-pocket expenses and costs before the deductible is met. Availability – Does the provider have the requisite resources, such as personnel and technology, to meet the needs of the patient?

– Does the provider have the requisite resources, such as personnel and technology, to meet the needs of the patient? Accessibility – How easily can the patient reach the provider's location? This is closest to the traditional definition of access and is the centerpiece of an employer’s review of network access for the workforce.

– How easily can the patient reach the provider's location? This is closest to the traditional definition of access and is the centerpiece of an employer’s review of network access for the workforce. Accommodation –The extent to which the provider's operation is organized in ways that meet the preferences of the patient; this would include things like hours of operation, telephone/digital communication options, and the patient’s ability to receive care without prior appointments.

–The extent to which the provider's operation is organized in ways that meet the preferences of the patient; this would include things like hours of operation, telephone/digital communication options, and the patient’s ability to receive care without prior appointments. Acceptability – The extent to which the patient is comfortable with the more immutable characteristics of the provider, and vice versa. These characteristics include the age, sex, social class, and ethnicity of the provider (and of the patient), as well as the diagnosis and type of coverage of the client.

Donabedian, Penchansky and Thomas

@MichiganMedicalMarihuana