Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 22, 2023

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

MDHHS moving forward with MIHealthy Life to provide
improved access to care for Medicaid health plan enrollees
Department rebidding contracts that serve 2.2 million Michiganders 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) today provided new information related to the rebidding of contracts for health plans that provide services to 2.2 million Michiganders receiving coverage through Medicaid and Michigan’s Healthy Michigan Plan.

MDHHS is announcing network requirements and minimum qualifications for bidders in its upcoming request for proposals for the Comprehensive Health Care Program contract for Michigan’s Medicaid health plans.

“We want to provide Michiganders served by Medicaid health plans with a more equitable, coordinated and person-centered system of care,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Through this rebid process, MDHHS seeks to provide improved affordable health care coverage for Michiganders served by Medicaid health plans.”

The contract is being rebid during fiscal year 2024, which begins Oct. 1, with new contracts beginning in fiscal year 2025. The rebid is part of MIHealthyLife, an initiative to strengthen Medicaid services informed by input from nearly 10,000 enrollees and family members, health care providers, health plans and other community partners.

Consistent with federal standards and input from MIHealthyLife stakeholders, the rebid will include updates to Michigan’s Medicaid Health Plan network adequacy and timely access standards, which can be found at Michigan.gov/MDHHS/MIHealthyLife.

When determining whether these standards are met, MDHHS will only consider providers with whom bidders have executed contracts at the time of bid submission. MDHHS is releasing its updates to Comprehensive Health Care Program network adequacy and timely access standards in advance of the rebid to provide time for potential bidders to review their provider networks and execute provider contracts necessary to meet the new standards.

MDHHS’s new Medicaid Health plan network adequacy and timely access standards can be found at Michigan.gov/MDHHS/MIHealthyLife, along with mandatory minimum requirements Medicaid Health Plans must meet in order to qualify for review under the rebid.

In addition, the request for proposals will incorporate several Comprehensive Health Care Program changes intended to advance the MIHealthyLife pillars. These include:

• A commitment to health equity demonstrated by plans achieving the NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation, beginning the process no later than Oct. 1, 2024.
• A strong emphasis on addressing social determinants of health demonstrated by investment and engagement with community-based organizations.
• Efforts to increase childhood vaccination rates, including increasing provider participation in the Vaccines for Children Program.
• Adoption over time of a more person-centered approach to mental health care coverage.

The Medicaid Health Plan request for proposals will be posted to the SIGMA system in Fall 2023, with responses due in January 2024. New contracts resulting from this rebid are scheduled to begin on Oct. 1, 2024. MDHHS reserves the right to change mandatory minimum requirements, dates or any other information deemed necessary.

Go to Michigan.gov/MDHHS/MIHealthyLife for more information. Questions about MIHealthyLife can be sent to mdhhs-mihealthylife@michigan.gov. Procurement-related questions can be sent to [email protected].  

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2023

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

MDHHS renews its partnership to continue providing GetSetUp virtual classes to empower older adults across Michigan

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and GetSetUp, an online learning and discovery platform designed specifically for older adults, has expanded its partnership for the third year in a row to combat social isolation and to keep older adults mentally, physically and socially active by providing Michigan residents age 50 and older an additional 500,000 free virtual classes across a range of topics.

MDHHS began partnering with GetSetUp in October 2020 to engage older residents through classes on various topics, and the overall number of classes attended since 2020 recently exceeded 1 million for the state. Programming may be accessed anywhere via smartphones, tablets or computers. For those seeking to learn more about how to use devices to access the resources, GetSetUp offers a selection of classes on topics about how to use smartphones and tablets, as well as how to use popular software programs and apps.

“By making programs like GetSetUp available for all residents at no cost, we are making meaningful progress in helping them live happy, healthy and engaged lives,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “The classes have had a positive impact on hundreds of residents who now have valuable resources to combat social isolation and access new knowledge, significantly improving their quality of life.”

GetSetUp has helped reduced isolation and loneliness by making its services available to the 2.4 million older adults in Michigan:

• 108,000 older adults used GetSetUp in the first year.
• There are nearly 268,000 users as of June 30, 2023.
• Individuals have participated in over 3,400 virtual classes and discussions on topics like healthy aging, fitness, photography, technology and mental health.

Michigan residents over age 50 can access the easy-to-use GetSetUp learning platform and participate free of charge in friendly, peer-led classes. Plus, they can join classes to learn about health, wellness and fitness, explore hobbies and much more.

“Our ongoing partnership with Michigan demonstrates the transformational impact that can be achieved when organizations come together to address social challenges with accessible, tech-enabled solutions,” said Lawrence Kosick, president and co-founder of GetSetUp.”This is just the beginning, and GetSetUp eagerly looks forward to our new Veterans classes developed with MDHHS to empower an even broader range of older Michigan residents in the years ahead.”

Learn more about GetSetUp’s partnership with MDHHS by exploring classes that help empower older adults to learn, connect and thrive at Getsetup.io/partner/Michigan.

About GetSetUp 

GetSetUp is an online community of older adults who want to learn, connect with others and unlock new life experiences. GetSetUp partners with entities such as state and local government agencies, health providers and community organizations to offer live programming taught by peers who are experts in their field, social hours hosted by community members and special events with speakers who directly address areas of interest to older adults. Classes are taught in English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin by older adults on a highly interactive, custom-built video platform where participants can connect during and in between classes. With a mission to combat social isolation and empower older adults to learn, connect and thrive, GetSetUp provides accessible and engaging educational experiences that enrich the lives of individuals across the United States. The company’s investors are specialists in the education and AgeTech sectors, including Primetime Partners, ReThink Education and Cowboy Ventures. To learn more, visit Getsetup.io.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2023

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

Michigan releases 2023 Eat Safe Fish Guides to help residents learn about and plan for local fish consumption

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has released the 2023 update to its Eat Safe Fish Guides, which provide guidelines for eating locally caught fish.

Guidelines are based on levels of chemicals found in the portions of fish that people eat – typically the filets. Test results from the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories are used to determine what is safe for people to eat over the long term.

“There are many health benefits to eating fish and the Eat Safe Fish Guides help individuals choose the fish that are best for them and their families,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive.

Chemicals in fish are a worldwide issue. The chemicals most commonly found in fish are mercury and PCBs. Additional chemicals, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have also been found in fish, resulting in Eat Safe Fish guidelines for fish from certain Michigan water bodies. Like mercury, PFOS cannot be removed by trimming away the fat on the fish because the chemical is stored in the filet. By using the Eat Safe Fish Guide, Michigan fish consumers can be confident they are making informed choices about eating the fish they catch from their local lake or river.

The 2023 Eat Safe Fish guidelines include several new recommendations originally announced in January 2023 for certain locally caught smelt. The new smelt guidelines are based on elevated levels of PFOS found in the smelt.

The new Eat Safe Fish consumption guidelines for smelt are as follows:

• Lake Huron: 6 servings per year.
• Lake Michigan: 1 serving per month.
• Portage Lake in Houghton County: 1 serving per month.
• Gull Lake in Kalamazoo County: 2 servings per month.
• Higgins Lake in Roscommon County: 4 servings per month.

MDHHS previously issued a guideline for smelt from Lake Superior in May 2022, recommending that no one eat more than 1 serving per month of smelt from Lake Superior, due to elevated levels of PFOS. That guideline will remain in effect.

Originally issued in August of 2018, the ‘Do Not Eat’ fish advisory remains in effect for a large stretch of the Huron River due to elevated PFOS levels in fish. That advisory begins downstream from where the river crosses N. Wixom Road in Oakland County to where the river crosses  I-275 in Wayne County and includes the following waterbodies: Norton Creek (Oakland County), Hubbell Pond also known as Mill Pond (Oakland County), Kent Lake (Oakland County), Ore Lake (Livingston County), Strawberry & Zukey Lakes (Livingston County), Gallagher Lake (Livingston County), Loon Lake (Livingston County), Whitewood Lakes (Livingston County), Base Line & Portage Lakes (Livingston/Washtenaw County line), Barton Pond (Washtenaw County), Geddes Pond (Washtenaw County), Argo Pond (Washtenaw County), Ford Lake (Washtenaw County) and Belleville Lake (Wayne County).

In addition to updating the Eat Safe Fish Guide with new guidelines, the program regularly reviews the science behind its guidelines. This review ensures that Eat Safe Fish guidelines are based on the best available science to be health protective for people who eat fish caught in Michigan.

Unlike the Department of Natural Resource’s Michigan Fishing Guide, the MDHHS Eat Safe Fish guidelines are not laws or regulations, and no one is required to follow them. Instead, the guides are a free resource for those who would like information about which fish, and how much of those fish, are healthy to eat from various bodies of water across the state.

MDHHS also produces the Buy Safe Fish Guide to help residents choose seafood from local grocery stores, fish markets and restaurants that is lower in mercury. The Eat Safe Fish Guides and Buy Safe Fish Guide are available online at Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish.

For more information on how to buy, eat or prepare safe fish, or to get the 2023 Eat Safe Fish Guide for your region, visit Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish and click on Find Your Area or call the MDHHS Division of Environmental Health at 800-648-6942.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 7, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov  

Governor Whitmer declares August as Breastfeeding Month
Aug. 8-14 – Indigenous Milk Medicine Week 
Aug. 15-21-Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week 
Aug. 25-31 – Black Breastfeeding Week
Sept. 5-11 – Lactancia Latina  

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan is committed to encouraging a strong foundation for life by supporting breastfeeding/chestfeeding parents for the first year of their child’s life and beyond. As part of this effort, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is declaring August 2023 as Breastfeeding Month. 

“Breastfeeding can protect babies against allergies, sickness and diseases like diabetes and certain cancers,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive.  “Michigan is committed to helping breastfeeding parents reach their goals through community-based support such as doulas and WIC peer counselors to help diversify lactation support and increase breastfeeding rates in local communities across the state.”   

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years old. Human milk feeding results in improved health for infants, children and parents, including preventing breast and ovarian cancers, serious colds and ear and throat infections, gastrointestinal tract infections, necrotizing enterocolitis, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eczema, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and leukemia – many conditions which excessively impact Black, Brown and Indigenous people.  

Although 88.4% of Michigan families start breastfeeding, the difference between white non-Hispanic initiation (98.8%) and Black, non-Hispanics initiation (76.2%) highlights the barriers that impact families of color. (PRAMS 2021). Some of those barriers include lack of access to supportive health care and childcare providers, and lack of paid work leave that leads to early weaning. Additionally, there are fewer lactation professionals from communities of color.  

The State of Michigan Women, Infants and Children program is celebrating National Breastfeeding Month with the theme “Into Every Drop.” WIC supports breastfeeding in the following ways:  

• Free, unlimited access to lactation consultants and breastfeeding peer counselors. 
• Training to all WIC staff to support prenatal and breastfeeding families. 
• Breastfeeding clients get more WIC foods than non-breastfeeding clients, including canned fish, and are able to stay on the program longer.
• At 6 months, breastfed babies receive infant meats and more fruits and vegetables.
• Many WIC clinics offer telehealth appointments. 
• WIC offers a breastfeeding warmline available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 833-MIWICBF (833-649-4223). 

For more information, visit the Michigan Breastfeeding Network. 

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov  

Medicaid beneficiaries will continue to have an extra
month to submit eligibility renewal paperwork
Michigan working to preserve health care coverage as renewal process resumes

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today that Medicaid beneficiaries with upcoming deadlines for returning renewal forms will have an extra month to submit paperwork to avoid loss of health care coverage due to not responding. This timeline will continue monthly going forward through May 2024 and does include individuals with a Monday, July 31 deadline.

“MDHHS is taking proactive steps to ensure that Medicaid recipients have as much time as possible to submit their renewal paperwork,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Our goal is to preserve health benefits for all qualifying residents and will continue to use every option available to achieve that outcome.”

Today’s action is the latest effort by MDHHS to preserve Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan eligibility for residents as requirements for annual renewals have resumed following the COVID-19 pandemic. MDHHS will work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay procedural terminations for future months to ensure beneficiaries have adequate time to complete and submit renewal paperwork.

Previously, the department gave Medicaid beneficiaries who had been asked to return forms by June 30 another month, with a new deadline of Monday, July 31 before they would be disqualified for not responding. That approach was successful with approximately 15,000 additional renewals in July and, as a result, MDHHS decided to apply that strategy going forward to this first year of eligibility renewals after the pandemic.

That deadline for the June cohort doesn’t extend further based on today’s announcement. Additional information about new due dates can be found in the Eligibility Timeline.

Additional MDHHS efforts to help Michiganders keep their coverage are possible as a result of the CMS approving new flexibilities and strategies to state officials to lessen the impact of the resumption of Medicaid renewals.

MDHHS advises families to return any renewal paperwork they receive from the department even if they believe they are no longer eligible for Medicaid. Some members of a household can obtain health care coverage even when others are not eligible. For example, a child may be eligible for MiChild, even if their parent is not eligible for other Medicaid programs. Or some Michiganders may have income that is over the income limit for one program and will still be able to obtain health care benefits through another program.

Starting in June this year, Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries were required to renew their coverage, as was the case before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, to comply with federal legislation.

Renewals for traditional Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan are staggered to take place monthly starting in June 2023 and running through May 2024. MDHHS will send monthly renewal notices three months before a beneficiary’s renewal date.

More than 3 million Michiganders, including 1 million Healthy Michigan enrollees, benefitted from keeping their Medicaid coverage without redeterminations on eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that required state Medicaid agencies to continue health care coverage for all medical assistance programs, even if someone’s eligibility changed. Michigan’s Medicaid caseload grew by more than 700,000 people during the public health emergency. This requirement was ended by the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 signed Dec. 29, 2022.

MDHHS will assess a household’s eligibility for all Medicaid programs – not just for the programs in which an individual is currently enrolled, and also for each family member in the household.

MDHHS advises all Medicaid enrollees to check their renewal month at Michigan.gov/MIBridges.

Michiganders who no longer qualify for Medicaid will receive additional information about other affordable health coverage options available, including on HealthCare.gov. Affected Michiganders will be able to shop for and enroll in comprehensive health insurance as they transition away from Medicaid, and many Michiganders can purchase a plan for less than $10 per month.

What Michigan Medicaid beneficiaries need to do to prepare:

1. Make sure your address, phone number and email address are up to date at gov/MIBridges. You can also call your local MDHHS office. If you do not have an online account for MI Bridges to access your Medicaid case or report changes, visit Michigan.gov/MIBridges to sign up for an account. You can also locate organizations that can help you by searching for community partners.
2. Report any changes to your household or income. You can report changes at gov/MIBridges or by calling your local MDHHS office.
3. If you get a renewal packet, be sure to fill it out, sign the forms and return it by the due date with any proof needed. NOTE: If you do not complete and return the renewal, you may lose Medicaid coverage.

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is working with MDHHS to help impacted Michiganders get affordable, comprehensive health insurance if they are determined to be no longer eligible for Medicaid. DIFS can answer questions about purchasing a health insurance plan. Call DIFS at 877-999-6442, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit Michigan.gov/StayCovered to learn more.

To ensure beneficiaries are aware of upcoming federal redetermination requirements and help them keep their coverage if eligible, MDHHS has launched a multimedia advertising campaign. This includes radio, audio streaming, outdoor, mobile and social media ads, including minority media outlets and stakeholder communications. The department is also working with other state government departments in its efforts to get the word out to beneficiaries.

More information about the how benefits connected to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency are changing can be found at Michigan.gov/2023BenefitChanges.