Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 2, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, Sutfinl1@michigan.gov

MDHHS reminds Michigan residents to take
steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
Families urged to check fuel burning appliances, install carbon monoxide
detectors as they turn back clocks for daylight saving time change

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) urges Michigan residents to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing CO detectors and making sure fuel burning appliances are properly working when turning back the clocks for the end of daylight saving time Sunday, Nov. 5.

CO is known as the “silent killer” as it is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poisonous gas. Most CO poisonings take place at home and are caused by items that are not properly installed, cared for or vented, including furnaces, water heaters, generators, gas grills, dryers, lanterns, space heaters, fireplaces, chimneys and gas stoves. CO is a gas that forms whenever a fossil fuel is burned (charcoal, wood, propane, gasoline, etc.).

“Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors save lives,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer. “It is imperative that you have a functioning CO detector on every level of your home, and near every sleeping area.”  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each year approximately 100,000 people across the country visit the emergency department for accidental CO poisoning. In 2020, the latest year that data are available from the MDHHS Michigan Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (MiTracking), there were 672 Michigan emergency department visits for CO poisoning. 

CO poisoning can be prevented by practicing the safety tips listed below and knowing the symptoms of exposure. At high levels, CO can cause death within minutes. If you suspect you may be experiencing CO poisoning, or your CO detector alarm goes off, go outside immediately for fresh air, and THEN call 911. 

“Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure include headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, confusion and nausea,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “If you think you have been exposed, it is important to get into an area with fresh air immediately and seek medical attention.”

To protect yourself and your family from CO, follow these safety tips:

• Make sure you have working CO detectors. Detectors on every level of your home, including the basement and near sleeping areas, are strongly recommended. Detectors can be purchased at most hardware and big box stores.
• Change batteries every six months (fall and spring) and replace your CO detector every five years or according to manufacturer’s instructions. Daylight saving time is a good time each year to replace the batteries in your CO detector and push the “Test” button to be sure it’s working properly.
• Where you have fuel burning devices, use a CO detector. Having a CO detector handy when using tents, cabins, RVs, and boats with enclosed cabins is a good safety practice.

• Have your furnace or wood-burning stove inspected every year. Hire a professional to make sure it is functionally sound and vents properly outside the home. 

• Generators should be run at a safe distance (at least 20 feet) from the home. Never run a generator in the home, garage or right next to windows, doors or other enclosed spaces. 
• Never run a car in an enclosed space. If a vehicle is running in the garage, the garage door must be fully open to allow harmful fumes to escape.

• Never run a gasoline or propane heater or charcoal, gas or wood grill inside your home or in any enclosed space, including a garage.

Visit Michigan.gov/MiTracking for more information and data about CO poisoning.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 30, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112, WheatonB@michigan.gov

Request for Proposals for Medicaid Health Plans now open
MDHHS launches process for the Comprehensive Health Care Program contract for Medicaid Health Plans

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) today launched a competitive procurement for the Comprehensive Health Care Program contract for Michigan’s Medicaid health plans, which combined serve 2.2 million Michiganders receiving coverage through Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan.

“Through this rebid process, MDHHS will select Medicaid health plan contractors with the experiences, capabilities and commitment to deliver an equitable, coordinated and person-centered system of care that will ultimately provide Michigan residents with a healthier future,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel.

The rebid is part of MIHealthyLife, an initiative launched in 2022 to strengthen Medicaid services through new Medicaid health plan contracts. Input from nearly 10,000 enrollees and family members, health care providers, health plans and other community partners informed the creation of five MIHealthyLife strategic pillars:

• Serve the Whole Person, Coordinating Health and Health-Related Needs.
• Give All Kids a Healthy Start.
• Promote Health Equity and Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities.
• Drive Innovation and Operational Excellence.
• Engage Members, Families and Communities.

The MIHealthyLife initiative guided design of Comprehensive Health Care Program changes embedded in the Medicaid Health Plan contract rebid. An informational webinar is available on the MIHealthyLife home page describing these priority program changes in more detail:

• Prioritizing health equity by requiring Medicaid health plans achieve National Committee for Quality Assurance Health Equity Accreditation.
• Addressing social determinants of health through investment in and engagement with community-based organizations.
• Increasing childhood immunization rates, including increasing provider participation in the Vaccines for Children program.
• Adopting a more person-centered approach to mental health coverage.
• Ensuring access to health care providers by strengthening network requirements.
• Increasing Medicaid Health Plan accountability and clarifying expectations to advance state priorities.

The Medicaid Health Plan request for proposals is posted to the SIGMA system. Responses from bidders are due on Jan. 16, 2024. Bidders are to submit any written non-rate related questions regarding the request for proposal by Nov. 17, 2023, and rate-related questions by Dec. 1, 2023. Interested bidders are encouraged to refer to the Proposal Instructions for additional information regarding questions submittal and deadlines. MDHHS will post answers to bidder questions on the SIGMA system by Dec. 14, 2023. Medicaid Health Plan contracts resulting from this rebid will begin on Oct. 1, 2024.

The State of Michigan reserves the right to change dates or any other information deemed necessary.

Visit the SIGMA website for more information on the system.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 9, 2023

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

MDHHS awards $200,000 to expand, improve access to sickle cell health care for Michigan families

LANSING – As part of an effort to increase patient access to multidisciplinary health care and improved care coordination and establish provider networks that focus on sickle cell disease, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has awarded two grants for sickle cell clinic expansion and enhancement.

The two awardees, each receiving $100,000, are:

• Children’s Hospital of Michigan, which will seek to reduce the incidence of stroke among its clinic patients with sickle cell disease by improving access to necessary transcranial doppler ultrasounds.
• Bronson Health Foundation, which will address issues of access to care and quality of care by developing improved referral networks and implementing a sickle cell-specific data collection module in their electronic medical record system. It will also strengthen its care coordination services and patient support activities.

“We are excited to see work begin on these new projects,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “They will help us continue to provide more equitable access to care for those with sickle cell disease.”

These two projects join three other projects located at Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan that were funded in April 2022.

The new clinic award period begins Oct. 1, 2023, and ends Sept. 30, 2024. A second three-year cycle of funding is expected to be issued in the summer of 2024. Initial funding for the clinic program was included in the fiscal year 2022 budget signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as part of the expansion of the Children’s Special Health Care Services program to cover adults with sickle cell disease.

For more information on the new clinic services, please email [email protected]. For more information about the Children’s Special Health Care Services program or its enrollment process, contact your local health department or call the Children’s Special Health Care Services Family Phone line at 800-359-3722.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 26, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, Sutfinl1@michigan.gov   

MDHHS alerts Michiganders about available COVID-19 testing options

LANSING, Mich. – As fall season begins, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages Michiganders to get free COVID-19 at-home tests through the federal government’s COVID-19 tests website and provides additional information about state-specific testing resources.

As of Monday, Sept. 25, all U.S. residents are able to go to COVIDTests.gov to sign up to receive up to four free at-home tests per household delivered via the U.S. Postal Service.

For Michiganders who are thinking about plans for on-site testing, Michigan.gov/COVIDTest remains in place to assist in locating a testing location.

MDHHS also continues to partner with libraries across the state to provide free at-home COVID-19 tests to Michiganders. Click here for a list of participating libraries.

Private health insurers are no longer required to cover at-home COVID-19 tests, however information is available regarding eligibility and options for individuals with private insurance and Medicare. Under federal law, Medicaid and MIChild participants can obtain free at-home and laboratory COVID-19 tests through Sept. 30, 2024. Check with your insurer for the most up-to-date information for your specific plan.

“Testing continues to be a critical tool in managing the spread of COVID-19 and we encourage Michigan families to take advantage of the available free COVID tests to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to our loved ones and neighbors,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “It is important to test for COVID but to also consider other respiratory diseases, like RSV and influenza, as we head into fall and winter when these respiratory diseases spread most easily. Please stay home if you are sick, even if you have a negative COVID test.”

MDHHS encourages Michigan families to have a COVID plan that works for them. This may include keeping a supply of COVID-19 over-the-counter tests and well-fitting masks at home; getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine; and speaking to a health care provider about eligibility for therapeutics that reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 disease for those who test positive.

More information about MDHHS-sponsored testing is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 24, 2023

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

MDHHS releases Tobacco-Free report card for Michigan K-12 schools

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Tobacco Section has released the 2023 Tobacco-Free Report Card: Michigan K-12 Public School Districts, which reports on the current state of tobacco-free policies in public school districts across the state.

“According to the report, nearly one third of Michigan high school students have used e-cigarettes, and 14% report current use,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “More than 80% of youth who have used a tobacco product started with a flavored product. E-cigarettes are detrimental to the health of our young Michigan residents, and these products can be highly addictive and can contain a variety of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Using these products can permanently damage a developing adolescent brain and tobacco-free policies are an important step to prevent youth vaping and promote youth smoking cessation.”

Of Michigan K-12 public school districts, 87% fell into the strongest category of tobacco-free school policy as of March 2023. This is a 240% increase since 2014 and each policy was categorized based on their comprehensiveness, however, 44% of counties in Michigan still have at least one school district without a comprehensive tobacco-free school policy.

Comprehensive tobacco-free school policies prohibit use of any and all tobacco and non-cessation nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, by everyone at all times on school grounds and at school-sponsored off-grounds events. The report card does not assess whether schools use alternatives to suspension and other evidence-based enforcement models, but it’s important to note that these kinds of programs are an important factor in implementing an effective policy.

Evidence-based enforcement includes tobacco and vaping prevention education and cessation resources and avoiding the use of suspension, exclusion from extracurricular school activities and referrals to law enforcement. Research indicates that punitive measures may actually increase tobacco and e-cigarette use, cause students to distance themselves from their education, exclude students from tobacco/vape-free environments that are safe and adult-supervised and increase early interactions with the criminal justice system.

The MDHHS Tobacco Section is available to provide training and technical assistance to support Michigan schools with tobacco-free school policies and model codes of conduct for incorporating alternatives to suspension. To request assistance, email MDHHS-TobaccoSection@michigan.gov.

MDHHS also offers access to programs that help Michiganders quit tobacco. My Life, My Quit is free and confidential text and online program for youth under 18 years old to quit smoking or vaping. Text “Start My Quit” to 36072 to get started. Adults 18 years an older who need help quitting can contact the MI Tobacco Quitlink at 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) – available 24/7.

Additional tobacco-free school and cessation resources can be found at Michigan.gov/Tobacco.