Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2023

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

MDHHS commemorates Minority Health Month by
spreading awareness through community engagement

LANSING, Mich. – As part of recognizing April as Minority Health Month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Equity and Minority Health (OEMH) is launching a series of conversations to gather statewide feedback on newly proposed Race and Ethnicity Data Collection Standards.

“Michigan must be a place where everyone can envision their future and access quality, affordable health care that meets their needs,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “During Minority Health Month, we acknowledge health disparities faced by communities of color and recommit ourselves to expanding coverage, lowering costs and ensuring every Michigander – no matter where they live or who they are – gets the medication, treatment and services they deserve. I am proud of the work the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has done to protect and expand access to health care, and I am also grateful to the ongoing work of the Racial Disparities Task Force to face these challenges head on. Let’s keep taking action to reduce disparities and protect the health and safety of every community.”

“Minority Health Month is a time to highlight barriers impeding the health disparities and health inequity for racial and ethnic populations,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “When people are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are empowered to create healthier outcomes for themselves and their communities.”

OEMH will honor its commitment to positively impacting disparities by sponsoring social media and community events throughout the month in partnership with the Regional Health Equity Councils. These efforts will focus on obtaining public input on how to best represent racial and ethnic identities in MDHHS’ data collection, analysis and dissemination efforts. Residents, organizations and businesses are also invited to join OEMH in promoting health literacy in April under the theme of “Better Health Through Better Understanding.”

“Far-reaching impact requires that the voices of those most affected be heard and valued,” said Kimberly Reese, director of Race Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office. “To achieve better health outcomes for racial and ethnic populations in Michigan, we must amplify efforts to improve cultural and language literacy for health care systems in marginalized communities.”

OEMH was created in 1988 and is the third oldest minority health office in the United States. Since its inception, OEMH has dedicated its efforts to assuring health equity and eliminating health disparities among Michigan’s racial and ethnic populations, including African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Arab and Chaldean Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics/Latinos.

These groups face disproportionate burdens of disease and health outcomes including higher mortality rates and overrepresentation in some chronic illness like diabetes and hypertension due to systemic racism, lack of culturally responsive services and other barriers to adequate and appropriate health care.

As part of its efforts to address social determinants of health and other factors that contribute to many racial and ethnic populations experiencing disparate health outcomes, OEMH supports 11 Regional Health Equity councils throughout the state. Through community-driven priority settings, each council tailors its activities on capacity building, community outreach and education.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2023

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

Hometown Health Heroes and Jean Chabut Policy Champions honored by Michigan Public Health Week partnership

LANSING, Mich. – As part of Public Health Week in Michigan, 10 individuals and organizations will be presented with the 2023 Hometown Health Hero and Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion awards for their contributions to protecting and improving the health of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is a founding member of this partnership.

Hometown Health Hero awards are presented every spring as part of Michigan Public Health Week.

“Our Hometown Health Hero awards are a way for us to highlight selfless and dedicated champions of public health who are making incredible efforts to improve the lives of Michigan residents,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “We celebrate all efforts, no matter how small or large, of health care professionals who make a positive impact on our state.”

2023 Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award

There are three recipients this year of the Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award. These individuals were nominated either by a member of their staff or members of their community. They have demonstrated an untiring commitment to the health and safety of their communities.

Jane Sundmacher, Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region

Jane Sundmacher established and expanded the Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region (NMCHIR), a 10-county collaboration supporting healthy people through partnerships of local health departments, hospitals, community-based organizations and more by aligning systems and addressing barriers to health and well-being. Sundmacher has secured millions of dollars of federal, state and local grant funding to support health department programming, mentor public health professionals, lead cross-jurisdictional sharing projects, and facilitate strategic planning for health organizations across northwest Michigan.

Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region (NMCHIR)

The NMCHIR has been recognized with a national Rural Health Innovation Profile for exciting and potentially replicable innovations in rural health care that show promise in improving health, care and lowering costs. NMCHIR achieved $3 million in Medicaid Health Plan savings between 2016 and 2021 by reducing emergency room visits by 23.5% and inpatient stays by 25.5%. NMCHIR uses a coordinated approach to address social determinants of health and represents a unique, collaborative strategy to improve conditions where people live, work, learn and play. Programming includes:

• Community Connections: A program addressing social determinants of health by connecting residents to community resources.
• Behavioral Health Initiative: A response to increasing behavioral health costs in the region to improve access to services and promotion of resiliency.
• Learning Community: A network of cross-sector partners with a common interest of amplifying resident voices and power, promoting health equity, and strengthening the 10-county digital neighborhood for improved coordination and alignment.
• MiThrive: A program bringing together cross-sector partners and residents in 31 counties including local health departments and hospitals to conduct common community health assessment and collaboration for community health improvement.

Ottawa County Department of Public Health

According to the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) is a criteria-based training and recognition program created by NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help local health departments develop core public health and emergency preparedness competencies. Ottawa County Department of Public Health first achieved PPHR recognition in 2017. They successfully completed the five-year re-recognition process in 2022. This intensive 18-month program provides local health departments with the structure to build training and preparedness capacity using a continuous quality improvement model. Through PPHR, local health departments demonstrate preparedness and response capability and capacity by showing they meet a nationally recognized set of criteria that are aligned with federal requirements and national best practices. This recognition is valid for five years, after which local health departments must reapply for recognition.

2023 Hometown Health Hero Award Winners

Lyn Campbell, Central Michigan District Health Department

Campbell serves residents in central Michigan living with HIV/AIDS through supervision of the Ryan White clinic. The Ryan White clinic operated by the Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD) has achieved a 100% viral suppression rate and is one of only a few clinics in the U.S. to offer CABENUVA, an injectable antiretroviral therapy medication to treat HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the CMDHD offers PrEP, a pre-exposure prophylaxis medication to reduce the chance of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Campbell and her team have brought in additional providers to offer full wraparound services for clients in one location. Case managers help coordinate care from basic needs to medication management. The Ryan White clinic at CMDHD is used as a model of success for other clinics.

Dana Kissner, MD, Detroit Health Department Tuberculosis Program

Dr. Kissner worked for decades to serve patients in the Detroit area and establish a tuberculosis (TB) clinic. The program offers a comprehensive approach including providing caregivers who speak multiple languages and treat the patient as a whole and not just their TB diagnosis. Kissner modernized the TB program at Detroit since joining the Detroit Tuberculosis Clinic in 2007. Kissner advocates for patients with complex backgrounds and ensures the social and environmental contexts are considered and addressed during treatment. As a result of these efforts, there have been no multi-drug resistant TB cases in the city of Detroit since 2012.

Carol Thornton, Dickinson-Iron Child Death Review Team

Thornton volunteered to create and lead a Child Death Review (CDR) team in Iron and Dickinson counties. The purpose of a CDR is to create activities and initiatives that can prevent future child deaths. CDR teams are not required in Michigan but help facilitate the review process for locations served. Thornton has helped families learn about teen suicide, safe infant sleep and safe sledding, as well as providing information on how to choose a safe vehicle for teens and keeping the vehicle properly maintained. Thornton’s dedication to health and safety aimed at preventing death has been incredibly beneficial for her community.

Christopher Petrat, Be Well Medical Center

Petrat was instrumental in broadening availability of the Jynneos vaccine during the mpox outbreak beginning last year. Petrat worked with community leaders and event organizers in the local LGBTQ+ community to set up vaccine tables at a variety of events on weekends and evenings and made sure the vaccines were available where community members felt secure and comfortable. More than 400 Jynneos doses were administered by the Be Well Medical Center where Petrat works, which was 3% of all doses administered in the state and 14% of all doses administered in Oakland County.

Jeremiah Hodshire, Hillsdale Hospital

Hodshire, the CEO of Hillsdale Hospital, has worked to increase specialists and services provided to the rural community of Hillsdale. He has been an advocate for rural health within the state and nationally. Additionally, Hodshire worked with local leaders to build trust with community members and help with the cost-sharing of medical expenses, which led to people accessing more preventative care instead of only receiving emergent care for more complex issues. Hodshire also worked to reopen My Community Dental Center to provide dental care to low-income and Medicaid patients, which decreased the number of patients visiting the emergency room for oral-related emergencies.

Dollar General

Dollar General partnered with Feeding America to positively impact food insecurity concerns across the country. In Michigan, Dollar General partners with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint, Forgotten Harvest in Detroit and Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor. In 2022, Dollar General donated 168,000 pounds of food equaling approximately 127,000 meals. Produce was added to 38 stores in 2022, five of which were located in areas defined as a food desert. Throughout Michigan, 91 stores offer produce in 11 food desert areas.

Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium

The Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium (NMORC) serves 25 counties in the lower peninsula to offer a coordinated response to reduce opioid and substance use disorders. NMORC offers naloxone training and distribution, harm reduction activities including education, provider training and workforce assistance, and works to reduce stigma around opioid and substance use. NMORC uses data to offer best practices and coordinate comprehensive care to those affected by substance use.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2024

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

MDHHS reminds Michigan residents to screen for breast cancer at all ages 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding Michigan residents of all ages to perform routine breast health checks and monitor changes in their breasts as part of National Young Cancer Awareness Week. This advice reflects the fact that 9% new breast cancer diagnoses happen in adults under age 45.

“If you notice concerning changes in your breast, contact your health care provider,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “While changes in breast tissue don’t necessarily mean cancer, it’s important to take a proactive approach to ensure any concerning health issues are caught and treated as early as possible.”

Changes to look out for include:

• A lump or abnormality in the shape or feel of the breast.
• A lump in the underarm area.
• Swelling on all or part of the breast.
• Irritation or dimpling of skin.
• Nipple retraction (nipple turning inward).
• Rash or redness.
• Spontaneous discharge from the nipple.

If you find any abnormality, seek medical care as soon as possible. Breast cancer can occur at any age regardless of family history.

If you are uninsured or underinsured, contact the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP) for help with follow-up on identified breast changes. The program provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services across the state for low-income individuals. The BC3NP does not pay for cancer treatment, however, women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer may be eligible for a special Medicaid program that pays for cancer treatment. To learn more about Michigan’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program, call 844-446-8727 or visit Michigan.gov/BC3NP. For resources in Spanish, call 800-379-1057.

For more information on resources for younger adults with breast cancer, visit this webpage.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2023

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

MDHHS expands dental benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries

LANSING, Mich. — To improve access to dental services, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has expanded dental benefits for adult Medicaid beneficiaries and increased rates for dental providers. This redesigned benefit will directly help beneficiaries by increasing access to services, enhancing care coordination and improving health outcomes. Benefit enhancements and service delivery began April 1.

“This positive change recognizes the strong correlation between oral and physical health outcomes,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “With better services and closer care coordination, we can maximize opportunities to create healthy outcomes for beneficiaries of all ages while also expanding the number of providers so Michigan’s residents can get care where and when they need it.”

The $85.1 million investment in increased reimbursement and $30 million in redesigned benefits will not result in any loss of services, and many recipients will have new services added. For beneficiaries who are 21 years and older, the following services will now be covered:

• X-rays
• Teeth cleanings
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Dentures
• Deep teeth cleanings (New)
• Sealants (New)
• Root canals (New)
• Crowns (New)
• Care to keep your gums healthy (New)

Changes reflect input from a broad array of stakeholders and lessons learned from the Healthy Michigan Plan and Pregnant Women dental programs. In addition to the expanded services, MDHHS has made changes to improve beneficiary access and provider participation, as well as expand access to robust care coordination services that ensure beneficiaries are supported in accessing the services they need.

As a first step in the redesign, a policy that substantially increased reimbursement rates for Medicaid dental services was implemented Jan. 1, 2023. Providers are now being paid at 100% of the Average Commercial Rate, ensuring access and incentivizing providers to treat Medicaid beneficiaries.

“The reimbursement rates for providers were very low under the old adult dental Medicaid program,” said Dr. Vince Benivegna, President of the Michigan Dental Association. “Dentists would lose money by treating adult dental Medicaid patients. As small business owners this was not sustainable. The new rates recognize the value of quality care and will allow more dental health providers to treat Medicaid patients.”

Medicaid beneficiaries will not lose any dental care benefits with these changes; however, the way services are delivered may change slightly. Medicaid beneficiaries aged 21 years and older, including Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries and pregnant women who are enrolled in a Medicaid Health Plan, Integrated Care Organization or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly will receive dental benefits through their health plan. The health plan becomes responsible for the beneficiary’s dental services obtained through the health plan’s dental provider network. The health plans will continue to provide robust care coordination and ensure that beneficiaries are supported in accessing the services they need.

Dental services for beneficiaries who are not enrolled in a health plan will be provided through the Medicaid FFS program.

For questions, beneficiaries can call the Beneficiary Help Line for free at 800-642-3195 (TTY: 866-501-5656) or send an email to beneficiarysupport@michigan.gov.

Providers can call 800-292-2550 or email [email protected].