Michigan doctors and funeral homes will have to report COVID-19 deaths under a new emergency order issued Saturday by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.
The order, which is effective immediately, requires physicians who know or suspect a patient’s death from COVID-19 to try quickly to notify the funeral director.
The funeral director is required to initiate the death record and submit to the attending physician within 24 hours of becoming aware that the death resulted or is suspected to have resulted from COVID-19.
Then, the director must file the death record with the local registrar of the district within 48 hours through the state’s electronic death records system.
Physicians who receive a death record for medical certification where the death resulted or is suspected to have resulted from COVID-19 must attempt to certify the death record within 24 hours of receipt.
Speedy reporting of COVID-19 deaths allows public health officials to more accurately understand the impact of the disease in the community and informs plans for further public health measures.
