LANSING, MI (WTVB) – State Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) has introduced House Bill 5406, a legislative measure designed to prevent Michigan’s healthcare system from supporting international human rights abuses.
The bill would prohibit insurers and Medicaid from covering organ transplants performed in or using organs sourced from countries known to engage in forced organ harvesting, specifically targeting China. By restricting these funds, Wortz aims to ensure that Michigan dollars do not unintentionally finance atrocities, citing peer-reviewed research from the American Journal of Transplantation that suggests organ removal has been used as a method of execution.
Under the proposed plan, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services would be responsible for identifying countries involved in these unethical practices.
Wortz emphasized that organ transplantation should focus on saving lives rather than exploitation, positioning Michigan to join states like Texas and Arizona in banning such coverage. With similar legislation already enacted in five states and pending in Wisconsin, Wortz expressed hope that Michigan’s involvement will contribute to a nationwide movement against forced organ harvesting.
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