State law requires a license prior to operating an acute care hospital, freestanding birth centers (April 2027), hospice agency and residence, freestanding surgical outpatient facility (FSOF), psychiatric hospital or unit, and substance use disorder (SUD) services program.

An applicant will need to submit an initial licensure application through the Michigan State Licensing System (MI-SLS). Instructions and requirements, including fees, will be completed in MI-SLS.

Licensing Fees for Acute Hospitals, Birth Centers, Hospices, and FSOFs as required by MCL 333.20161:

• $2,000 initial application fee
• $500 license fee
• Plus $10 per hospital bed
• Plus $5.00 per hospice residence bed

Licensing Fees for Psychiatric Hospitals or Units as required by MCL 330.1139:

• $500 license fee
• Plus $10 per hospital bed

For federal certification of hospitals, hospices, or ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) to participate in Medicare or Medicaid, click here.

A licensee is required to submit a change application for the following:

• Change in ownership of the licensee entity
• Change in location of the licensed health facility or agency or SUD services program
• Change in the facility or program name
• Change in corporate name
• Change in the bed capacity by an increase or decrease in the number of licensed beds
• Change in SUD service category
• Change in SUD mobile unit
• Facility/Program Closure
• Building Program Agreement

A licensee is required to submit information updates for the following:

• Contact information, including designated leadership (administrator, directors, etc.) position

A licensee will need to submit a change application or update information through the Michigan State Licensing System (MI-SLS). Instructions and requirements, including payment of licensing fees, as applicable, will be completed in MI-SLS.

For federal certification of hospitals, hospices, or ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) to participate in Medicare or Medicaid, click here.

Approval by other state agencies may be required prior to licensing action. Contact the programs below for more information.

Certificate of Need, excluding hospices and SUD services programs
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS)
Email: MDHHS-ConProjects@michigan.gov     Phone: 517-241-3344

Health Facilities Engineering Section, excluding hospice agencies and SUD services programs
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
Email: LARA-BCHS-HFES@michigan.gov     Phone: 517-241-3408

Bureau of Fire Services, excluding hospice agencies and SUD services programs
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
Email: bfsplanreview@michigan.gov     Phone: 517-335-5804

State licenses for acute care hospitals, freestanding birth centers (April 2027), hospice agencies and residences, freestanding surgical outpatient facilities (FSOF), psychiatric hospitals or units, and substance use disorder (SUD) services programs must be renewed annually. A license is required by MCL 333.20141(1), MCL 330.1134, and MCL 333.6233 to establish or maintain and operate a health facility or agency. A provider’s non-renewal of a license by September 1st is not considered as a refusal to renew by the department under MCL 333.20165 and MCL 333.6238.

Annual renewal notices are sent within Michigan State Licensing System (MI-SLS) in the second quarter of each year. Instructions and requirements, including fees, will be completed in MI-SLS.

License renewals must be paid no later than July 31st. All licenses not renewed by September 1st will have the license closed and a notice will be posted to the license on the MI-SLS Health Facility License Search page.

The Michigan State Licensing System (MI-SLS) is a modernized platform to complete licensure activities. Health facilities and agencies and SUD services programs will use MI-SLS for state licensing actions.

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Survey Waiver

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State law, MCL 333.20155(1) and MCL 333.6238, requires the department to conduct inspections of licensed acute care hospitals, freestanding birth centers (April 2027), hospice agencies and residences, freestanding surgical outpatient facilities (FSOF), and substance use disorder (SUD) services programs at least once every 3 years. An inspection will be an evaluation of the agency, facility, or program against all applicable laws and administrative rules, as follows:

Health Facilities and Agencies

• Michigan Public Health Code – Parts 201 (all), 207 (birthing centers), 208 (FSOF), 214 (hospice), and 215 (hospital)
• State Licensing Administrative Rules (see Licensing Health Facilities and Agencies)

SUD Services Programs

• Michigan Public Health Code – Article 6
• Mental Health Code – Chapter 2A
• State Licensing Administrative Rules (see Substance Use Disorder Services Program)

State law, MCL 333.20176, MCL 330.1754, and MCL 333.6238, also requires the department to conduct investigations upon receipt of a complaint that alleges violation of applicable state law or administrative rules. An investigation will be focused on evaluating only applicable to the allegations of law or rule violation.

The department may waive the required inspection of health facilities and agencies in accordance with MCL 333.20155.  In lieu of performing an unannounced onsite state licensing inspection, the department will perform a desk review of documentation submitted through the waiver request, as detailed below:

Hospital, Hospice, and FSOF
A survey waiver may submit a finding of substantial compliance or an accepted plan of correction, if applicable, with the most recent. full accreditation report and executive summary from a department approved accrediting organization.

Each year a notice for survey waiver eligibility through the Michigan State Licensing System (MI-SLS) will be issued for the next calendar year.  Additionally, a published listed will be posted here on October 1.  If a hospital, hospice, or FSOF is scheduled for an inspection for the next calendar year, the provider may submit a waiver request on or before December 1 prior to the scheduled next calendar year.  The licensed provider will receive a written determination of the decision of the waiver request through MI-SLS.

Acceptance of a waiver request and review is at the discretion of the department and may be denied for reasons including:

• Submission of an accreditation report that does not meet the timeframe specified in code and/or demonstrates the licensed provider is not in "good standing" with the accrediting organization.
• There is indication of substantial non-compliance with licensure standards or deficiencies that represent a threat to public safety or patient care.  The department may review and consider recent history of complaints, status of current license (e.g., temporary vs. permanent), as well as other inspection reports available to the department for consideration.
• Accreditation report or executive summary does not match the licensed facility address and/or license name.

Pursuant to MCL 333.20155(10), the denial of a waiver request is not subject to appeal.

Department approved accrediting organizations are:

• Freestanding Surgical Outpatient Facilities (FSOF/ASC)
  • The Joint Commission
  • Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
  • American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
• Hospice Agencies & Residences
  • The Joint Commission
  • Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP)
  • Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
• Hospitals
  • The Joint Commission
  • American Osteopathic Organization
  • Det Norske Veritas

SUD: The survey waiver process does not apply to SUD as there is not an accepted accrediting body approved by the Department.

PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL/UNIT: The survey waiver process does not apply to a psychiatric hospital or unit because MCL 333.20155 does not include psychiatric hospitals or units within its waiver provisions.

BIRTH CENTERS: The survey waiver process does not apply to birth centers as there is no accepted accrediting organization for the purposes of 42 USC 1395bb. 

Acute care hospitals with swing bed programs, hospices, and psychiatric hospitals or units must conduct a criminal history check on all employees, contractors, and individuals granted clinical privileges that have access to residents or resident protected financial and health information in accordance with MCL 333.20173a and MCL 330.1134a. Access to the Workforce Background Check (MWBC) Long Term Care Portal is granted upon initial licensure.

It is important to not only conduct fingerprinting and background checks in the MWBC system but also maintain accurate and current records of employment status, pending results, and employability determinations. Workforce background checking is a key component to the licensure survey process and is essential for maintaining a compliant license. This requirement is closely reviewed during surveys, so it is imperative that all facilities keep employee information in the MWBC up to date.  

Criminal history checks are site-specific. You cannot use one licensed site’s account to conduct background checks for another licensed site, even if each site shares a common owner. Each licensed facility must use its own account, and all background checks for employees must be completed under the specific facility where the employee will work. A single facility’s background check login cannot be used for multiple facilities unless the individual is properly associated with each facility within the WBC system. Additional guidance and resources on criminal history checks is located on the Workforce Background Check website (WBC Guide, WBC FAQ, Student-Volunteer Requirements).

Health Facilities and Agencies

• Michigan Public Health Code – Parts 201 (all), 207 (birthing centers), 208 (FSOF), 214 (hospice), and 215 (hospital)
• State Licensing Administrative Rules (see Licensing Health Facilities and Agencies)

SUD Services Programs

• Michigan Public Health Code – Article 6
• Mental Health Code – Chapter 2A
• State Licensing Administrative Rules (see Substance Use Disorder Services Program)

The forms below may be necessary and utilized by the department for specific licensure actions. Form will include instructions and may require a form to be loaded in Michigan State Licensing System (MI-SLS).

• Closure Plan

Visit the LARA-BCHS MI-SLS Health Facility License Search site to look up state licensed acute care hospitals, freestanding birth centers (April 2027), hospice agencies and residences, freestanding surgical outpatient facilities (FSOF), psychiatric hospitals or units, and substance use disorder (SUD) services programs. This site includes recent inspection and complaint investigation reports.

The following provider resources offer additional information to providers to deliver quality care services in Michigan and help providers remain compliant with state and federal regulations.

Psychiatric Hospitals and Units

• Notification of Death – In accord with MCL 330.1720 and 330.1721 require state licensed psychiatric hospitals and units to report to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Recipient Rights (ORR) all deaths of mental health care recipients occurring in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric unit and within 48 hours of discharge, as well as the cause of death, if known. Please report using MDHHS-5949 and email directly to DHHS-ORR at MDHHS-5949.dotx (live.com) or by FAX to 248-348-9963. Should you have questions and/or need additional information, please contact MDHHS-RecipientRights@michigan.gov or 800-854-9090 or visit the MDHHS-ORR website at michigan.gov/recipientrights.
• MDHHS - ORR Training Standards Requirements

Substance Use Disorder Services Programs

• Know Your Rights Poster - April 2025
• Regional Entity Contact Information - May 2025
• Recipient rights Complaint Forms
  • BCHS-SUD-200
  • BCHS-SUD-205
  • BCHS-SUD-210
  • BCHS-SUD-215
  • BCHS-SUD-220
  • BCHS-SUD-225
  • BCHS-SUD-250

For federal certification of hospitals, hospices, or ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) to participate in Medicare or Medicaid, click here.

The residents, family, and public resources page provides information for the consumer such as what a complaint investigation against a licensed health facility or agency or SUD services program includes and other informational resources.

A complaint investigation of a state licensed health facility or agency or SUD services program does:

• Holds the agency, facility, or program to compliance with the state licensing laws or rules appliable to the allegations of the complaint
• Requires the agency, facility, or program to establish a corrective action plan if found in violation of state licensing laws or rules
• Identifies deficient practices and ensures that the agency, facility, or program establishes and maintains compliance of state licensing laws or rules

A complaint investigation against a state licensed health facility or agency is not:

• Going to result in any civil penalties for the facility
• Likely going to result in the closure of the facility
• Completed for the benefit of a private legal proceeding

Resources

• Looking for health facility or agency or SUD services program? Visit the MI-SLS Health Facility License Search website. This website includes recent state licensing inspection and investigation reports and connects you to the federal certificate website for federal reports too.
• Looking for a Medicare certified provider or supplier? Visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website to find a provider or supplier in your area and how they compare to like providers or suppliers.
• Want to file a complaint against state licensed health facility? Visit the department’s website for more information.