Press Release

CORRECTION ISSUED TO INCLUDE HEADLINE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2024

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS recognizes benefits of having a family physician during Family Medicine Week

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), along with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians are recognizing March 17-23 as Family Medicine Week in Michigan.

Family medicine is a medical specialty practiced by family physicians. These physicians undergo extensive training to provide comprehensive care for people of all ages.

“Visiting your family physician for regular check-ups and to keep up to date on immunizations can help you stay healthy and prevent illness,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “Family physicians undergo comprehensive training and provide team-based and evidence-based care to individuals and families by emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention which prevents more costly medical care and more serious conditions. We recommend all Michigan residents get a family physician or other primary care provider and keep up with routine medical visits.”

Family Medicine Week highlights family physicians’ dedication to providing comprehensive, coordinated primary care to residents across the state to protect and improve health and wellness and reduce costs to the health care system. Research shows that adults and children with a family physician as their regular source of care have lower annual costs of care, visit the doctor less, are prescribed fewer medications and report less difficulty accessing care.

Family physicians are key partners in Michigan adults and children getting vaccinated against the seasonal flu, COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles that cause illness and death.

To learn more about Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, visit MAFP.com. To learn more about Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians, visit MAOFP.org.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS Children Trust Michigan seeks proposals to help prevent child
abuse and neglect through programs that support families

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Children Trust Michigan has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to increase community-based efforts that help prevent child abuse and neglect for at-risk families.

Proposals should support strengths-based programs that build upon the five Strengthening Families Protective Factors.

The Direct Service Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Program supports local or statewide public, private or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and federally recognized tribes or a group of federally recognized tribes or Urban Indian Health Centers with community-based, secondary prevention programs and services designed to promote strong, nurturing families and prevent child abuse and neglect. Organizations currently receiving funding for a direct service program are eligible to apply only if they meet the requirements in Section II.6 program requirements of the RFP document. Only applications that establish new programs or add dimensions or components to existing programs are eligible for funding.

A total of $400,000 is available, with a maximum award of $80,000 per grantee. MDHHS anticipates issuing up to five awards.

Priority will be given to applications that propose one or more of the following:

• Program/curriculum is evidence-based/evidenced-informed.
• Offers participants parent education, peer support, and training opportunities.
• Demonstrates community collaboration.

Examples of other child abuse prevention programs that could be funded under this opportunity but not limited to:

• Parent Cafés.
• Parenting Education.
• Fatherhood Initiatives.
• Respite Care/Crisis Nurseries.
• Family Resource Centers.
• Kinship Care.

Project director requests to get access to the application are due by 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 24. Grant applications must be submitted electronically through EGrAMS by 3 p.m., May 1. The program period begins Oct. 1, 2024, and ends Sept. 30, 2025. Successful applications may be awarded continuing funding based on funding availability and performance.

A pre-application conference will be held to discuss this funding opportunity and provide instruction on using the EGrAMS system at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 21, and will last approximately 90 minutes. The webinar can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3ux28I3. At the conclusion of the conference, this link can be used to access the recording of this webinar.

Any questions concerning the content of this RFP must be sent via email to childrentrustmichigan@michigan.gov by Monday, March 25. Questions may be discussed verbally at the pre-application conference. MDHHS will compile all relevant questions and answers and post these as well as any other clarifications or revisions to the initial RFP by Monday, April 1, 2024, on the EGrAMS website.

For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website and select “About EGrAMS” link in the left panel to access the “Competitive Application Instructions” training manual. The complete RFP can be accessed under the ‘Current Grants’ section under the “Children Trust Michigan” link and selecting the “DS-2025” grant program.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2024

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS seeks public input on effort to offer
nutrition services to Medicaid recipients 

LANSING, Mich. — As a part of its commitment to strengthen health care for Michigan residents and address social determinants of health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking public input on potential services designed to address health-related nutrition needs.

MDHHS is encouraging health plans participating in the Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan to offer in lieu of services (ILOS) options to beneficiaries that address food insecurity and increase access to healthy foods.

ILOS are services the state considers to be medically appropriate and cost effective when provided as substitutes to other Medicaid-covered services. ILOS would be offered to eligible Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees by their health plan and delivered by a community-based provider such as a food bank, meal provider or a food pharmacy which is a new program model designed to increase the access to and consumption of healthy foods.

“MDHHS is working to address social determinants of health by investing in and engaging with community-based organizations,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director. “The department is excited for the opportunity to collaborate with community partners on this innovative effort to improve the health of Michigan residents enrolled in Medicaid health plans through nutrition services.”

MDHHS is seeking public input on proposed service definitions for the following four potential ILOS:

• Medically Tailored Home Delivered Meal.
• Healthy Home Delivered Meal.
• Healthy Food Pack.
• Produce Prescription.

Through a request for information (RFI), MDHHS is seeking input from community-based nutrition service providers, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, federally recognized Michigan Indian tribes, providers of health care, health systems, health plans and other interested parties that bring valuable insights into local needs and cultural considerations, as well as into statewide capacity to deliver nutrition-focused services.

The RFI questions seek feedback on the proposed ILOS definitions, how best they meet enrollee needs, the availability of ILOS across the state and community-based providers’ capacity to deliver ILOS.

Feedback will be used to refine ILOS definitions prior to submission for federal approval and implementation.

Responses must be submitted via email to MDHHS-EngageMedicaid@michigan.gov by 5 p.m., Friday, April 5.

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/MDHHSILOS.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Michigan families urged to focus on healthy eating habits
Beyond the Table during National Nutrition Month

LANSING, Mich. – In March, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is joining with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage Michiganders to focus on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits during National Nutrition Month.

“The 2024 theme, Beyond the Table, encourages healthy eating no matter where we get our nutrition,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Whether you’re eating at home or on the road, it’s important to consider how we get, prepare, store and eat our foods.”

Beyond the Table addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition, from food production and distribution to navigating grocery stores and farmers markets, and even home food safety and storage practices. It also describes the various ways we eat, not only around a dinner table, but also on the go, in schools and restaurants, at games and events. This theme also includes sustainability, for instance, decreasing food waste from school and work to home and beyond.

During National Nutrition Month, the Michigan WIC Program encourages everyone to eat a variety of foods from the different food groups and buy local to support Michigan’s strong agriculture and farming heritage.

WIC is a federally funded program that serves low-income women, infants and children up to age five by providing nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health and other services. WIC foods are selected to meet nutrient needs such as calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamins A and C. WIC provides families with access to registered dietitians or registered dietitian nutritionists. These food and nutrition experts specialize in assessing one’s unique needs and providing personalized nutrition education and counseling to meet individual health goals.

To learn more about WIC or find an agency near you, call 211 or visit Michigan.gov/WIC.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2024

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS urges residents to make sure they are up-to-date on measles vaccination as more cases diagnosed in Wayne and Washtenaw Counties

If you suspect you may have measles, call your health care provider facility before visiting so they can take proper precautions to prevent additional exposures

LANSING, Mich. – In response to the growing number of measles cases, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging residents to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles vaccinations.

“If you are not vaccinated for measles, get vaccinated as quickly as you can,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “We are seeing increased cases of measles abroad and outbreaks of measles across the United States in the setting of declining childhood vaccination rates. Now measles is in Michigan, and it’s important to make sure you protect yourself from this vaccine-preventable disease.”

Michigan residents can contact their health care provider or visit their local health department for additional information on ways to obtain the vaccine and schedule an appointment. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air. The three cases in Michigan are not connected, which illustrates there are multiple places where you could be exposed to measles.

The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include:

• High fever (may spike to over 104˚F).
• Cough.
• Runny nose.
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
• Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) two to three days after symptoms begin.
• A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.

If symptoms develop, residents are urged to not visit their doctor or emergency room unless they have called ahead so facilities can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals.

With the risk for community spread, parents are encouraged to make sure their children are up to date on all their childhood immunizations, including the measles vaccine. Ninety percent of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected. About one in five people who get measles will be hospitalized. In addition to Michigan’s case, 35 measles cases have been reported in 2024 in 15 other states to date.

The measles vaccine is highly effective and very safe. A single dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses are about 97% effective. It is also effective if used within 72 hours of a measles exposure to prevent illness. However, some individuals with weakened immune systems may not be eligible to receive this vaccine. Getting vaccinated not only protects the individual receiving the vaccine but can also protect vulnerable individuals in our communities from being exposed to this illness.

To learn more about the MMR vaccine, visit  Vaccine for Measles (MMR Shot) | CDC. 

For more information about Measles cases in the U.S., visit  Measles Cases and Outbreaks | CDC. 

Click here for Dr. Bagdasarian’s message about the measles vaccine.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 29, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Michigan addressing racial disparities in overdose deaths through
harm reduction, other data-driven programs in upcoming year
More than 6,600 overdoses reversed through naloxone distribution 

LANSING, Mich. – As part of Michigan’s efforts to reduce drug-related overdose deaths and decrease overdose racial disparities, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is investing $10 million from opioid settlement funds in harm reduction programs in FY2024.

The State of Michigan is expected to receive more than $800 million over 18 years as part of the $26 billion nationwide settlement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors as well as opioid manufacturer Johnson and Johnson.

“Michigan has been a leader in distributing opioid funds and ensuring the care, health and well-being of residents in need, and we will continue to lead in this area,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and Michigan Opioids Task Force co-chair. We have been recognized as a national leader in harm reduction by the National Governors Association.”

Michigan experienced one of the highest rates of overdoses in the country in 2017, but by 2021 had improved to a rate better than the national average. When comparing 2023 to 2022, Michigan continues to experience promising decreases in overdoses. However, these decreases are not representative of all Michigan residents, with Black residents overdosing at a rate 2.7 times higher than white Michigan residents based on preliminary January to June 2023 data. In 2022, there were 2,998 overdose deaths, 840 (28%) of those deaths among Black residents.

“We are addressing disparities by prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations as we distribute settlement dollars across the state,” said Tommy Stallworth, MDHHS senior advisor and consultant. “As the former director of the Governor’s Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, the opioid epidemic is another tragic example of the need to address racial disparities in health care. As such, we are making sure that equity is at the core of all decisions we make about allocating opioid settlement funds, targeting programs and also ensuring our decisions are made with the supporting data in mind. Everything we do must be designed with the goal of measurably reducing overdose deaths and eliminating racial disparities.”

Naloxone kit distribution, drug test kits helping save lives

Michigan has distributed more than 730,000 naloxone kits and recorded over 6,600 overdose reversals since the 2020 launch of Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which provides the opioid overdose reversal medication at no charge to community groups. In FY23, opioid settlement dollars funded the distribution of nearly 150,000 kits, resulting in the reversal of nearly 2,600 overdoses. Nearly 25,000 naloxone kits were distributed in both Detroit and Flint.

As part of the effort to get naloxone into the hands of communities of color, The Youth Connection in Detroit has provided in-person and virtual trainings on naloxone administration for 6,727 individuals and distributed 7,600 naloxone kits. Training has been provided to numerous community organizations, including law enforcement, block clubs, churches, schools and senior facilities.

“Making sure a variety of community members know how to use and have access to naloxone is key to being able to address overdoses, which can happen in any setting,” said Dr. Grenae Dudley, president and CEO of The Youth Connection. “Naloxone saves lives and we have received reports of 100 overdose reversals by participants of our trainings.”

Additionally, in FY23, 73,352 fentanyl test strips and 5,392 xylazine test strips were distributed. This includes nearly 6,500 test strips in Detroit. Data indicates people using drugs practice safer use when knowing these substances are present.

Additional efforts designed to address disparities slated for the coming year include adding the distribution of naloxone and fentanyl strips to community wellness centers across the state with an emphasis on communities of color. These centers are located in trusted community partners including churches and other community locations.

Additional information regarding proposed programming under Michigan’s Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund is provided on the opioids settlement website.